India will be replacing one billion lights
nationwide with energy efficient LEDs within three years, The Economic Times
quoted a top ranking Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) official saying.
Previous reports from India were mostly
focused on the country’s policy of overhauling of 27.5 million streetlights with LEDs
within three years. Recent reports suggest the lighting upgrades will be far
more comprehensive.
Asked about the Clean Energy Ministerial
outcome held in Mexico in May this year, Ajay Mathur, Director General, BEE
said 23 participating countries agreed to work towards changing 10 billion
lights with energy efficient bulbs.
India decided to swap one billion lights
with energy efficient LEDs in a three year time frame.
This high volume target would make
manufacturers increase LED bulb production capacity that would eventually bring
down retail prices, he said.
Moreover, there will be export
opportunities for Indian bulb makers, Mathur added.
Queried about BEE’s proposed venture capital fund,
Mathur said the fund would be operational within a month.
No project has been rewarded the fund
sanction out of the INR 750 million (US $11.77 million) corpus. India’s central government is expected to
also provide financial support to the corpus.