UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Light Emitting Diode (LED) for All), launched on January 5, 2015, aimed to provide energy-efficient LED bulbs to domestic consumers at an affordable price.
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| Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Light Emitting Diode (LED) for All |
UJALA was launched to increase the demand for LED lights by aggregating requirements across the country and providing economies of scale to manufacturers through regular bulk procurement. It helped the manufacturers to reduce the cost of LED bulbs not only for UJALA program but for the retail segment as well.
Saving Energy
The UJALA programme aims at enhancing consumer awareness on the financial and environmental benefits of using energy-efficient appliances and creating a market for energy-efficient appliances.
According to the Union Power Minister, the distribution of 36.79 Crore (as of March 16, 2022) LED bulbs resulted in energy saving of 47,784 million units of electricity per annum. Further, a peak demand reduction of 9,566 MW and 38.70 million tonnes of CO2 emission reduction annually was also registered.
It also promotes the use of the most efficient lighting technology at affordable rates to domestic consumers which benefits them by way of reduced energy bills and improved quality of life.
Benefits
The LED initiative has added to the government’s efforts towards energy efficiency in the country. In addition to reduction and better management of energy consumption in peak demand, the UJALA and SLNP programmes are also helping in various other avenues. For instance,
– Green House Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction: It has helped in mitigating climate change by implementing energy-efficient LED-based street lights. This has resulted in reduced GHG emissions. Furthermore, reduction in energy intensity has supported India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals.
– Improvement in the safety and security in public areas in rural, semi-urban, and urban settings through better illumination.