LED lights to help India save $2 billion: Union Minister Piyush Goyal

The government is planning to save $2 billion in four years by cutting down on energy usage by 10,000 MW during peak hours by promoting LED lights, Power, Coal and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said.

"The plan is to cut down energy demand by nearly 10,000 MW in peak hours by changing to LED lights in street and homes by 2019. This itself will save power to the tune of $2 billion," Goyal said in a question and answer session with Facebook users.

Apart from this, the government is focusing on star rated appliances and improving industrial energy efficiency for an overall saving of about 100 billion units a year, that is 10% of country's current consumption, he said.

"I hope to utilise these savings to power the homes of 280 million Indians deprived of energy access, sadly, 67 years after independence," Goyal said.

Apart from lowering LED lights prices, Goyal said the government is taking steps to boost rooftop solar power production.

"We are hoping to scale the demand for rooftop solar and in the next seven years - we have plans to roll out 40,000 MW for rooftop solar, which is massive. Concurrently, we will start procurement through reverse bidding which should help bring down the prices. To what extent the prices will come down, I cannot say at this point," he said.

On forecast of a deficient monsoon, the Minister said, "Obviously a deficient monsoon is a matter of concern to all policymakers. We are preparing ourselves to increase coal-based power generation significantly, just like we did last year due to delayed monsoon, so that it can compensate for the lower hydel power and meet the increased demand of a agrarian pumps to provide water."

Further, based on the need assessment in different areas, supplementary public works will be initiated to provide alternate employment, he said adding fortunately, the food stocks are at comfortable levels.

On huge transmission loss, Goyal said the problem was more sever in eastern and northern parts.

"In states like Bihar, it's upwards of 40 per cent. We have started two new schemes for rural and urban areas focused on upgrading the T&D infrastructure by feeder segregation of powerlines to farms, extensive metering along transmission corridors, smart meters, and advanced communication systems to integrate consumption data with billing so that we can address this problem of power theft and distribution losses," he said.

Goyal also said government is taking comprehensive steps to check coal mafia operating in mines including installation of CCTVs to boost output especially in eastern region mines.

In reply to a query about taking strong steps to stop coal mafia in Jharkhand and Bihar, Goyal said it is "not an easy job though".

A pilot programme has been launched at a coal mine, where GIS mapping of the entire mine area has been introduced besides putting GPRS system on entire process and installing CCTV cameras, computerised automated way bridges, and several such technological interventions, he said.

"The results so far are encouraging and have brought transparency. We are scaling it up to top 30-40 mines, which account for 75 per cent of Coal India output. All of this is going to be up on the website. At some stage, I am visualising a live feed from these cameras and technology for the public to view," Goyal said.

On a question on improving power supply in Uttar Pradesh, Goyal said the Centre has ensured that each power plant has coal stock for 10 to 40 days.

Besides he said he would be visiting Varanasi nex week to initiate steps to augment electricity infrastructure in the city and added, "We have already changed the lights at two Ghats (Assi and Dasaswamedh) to LED which will be rapidly expanded all over Varanasi. I hope the UP government will ensure 24x7 supply to everybody in UP at the earliest." On promoting women entrepreneurs to set up micro grid and off grid solutions, Goyal said, "We do have a scheme being formulated to support educated, unemployed youth to set up such projects."

He also added that there is a possibility that of a programme for installing home based solar systems comprising three-four bulbs, a fan, a small TV, and a mobile charger with a battery backup run through women and train local women to maintain these equipment.

On broadband over power lines, Goyal said, "We already have Power Grid corporation who has set up fibre optic on their whole network. We are talking to the states to supplement these lines on the state grid, going right down to the consumer. This will enable provision of broadband at much cheaper rates. These initiatives are a part of the Digital India campaign."

Talking about gap between power generation cost and tariff in states, Goyal said, "this gap of 80p has more to do with inefficiencies in the system and it may not be correct to burden the consumers with higher tariffs or power cuts but to focus on T&C losses, power theft, generate cheaper power through efficiency of thermal plants, etc." He said at the states level, several discoms have huge losses due to inefficient management over the years, which also need to be sorted out. The central government is working closely with the states to both reduce these losses and encourage energy conversation and efficiency which will make India energy secure and environmentally safe.