2,640MW power can be saved by using devices : Study

FE Team | Published: June 15, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Some 2,640MW of electricity could be saved from the current use of 7,650MW through efficient devices and equipment, reports UNB.
This was disclosed in a study which was conducted by the Power Division.
Power Division's Joint Secretary Siddique Zobair carried out the study as part of the government move to improve efficiency in power sector.
The study found that there is a potential for saving 1020MW of electricity from residential and commercial uses. Currently, the residential and commercial lights, particularly the bulbs, consume 1700MW of the country's total electricity.
But if the conventional and CFL bulbs in residences and offices are replaced with the LED bulbs, the power consumption will come down significantly as LED bulbs consume much less electricity than any other bulbs.
The LED lamp is a light-emitting diode (LED) product that is assembled into a lamp (or light bulb) for use in lighting fixtures. LED lamps have a lifespan and electrical efficiency that is several times better than incandescent lamps, and significantly better than most fluorescent lamps, with some chips able to emit more than 100 lumens per watt, said experts.
Mr Zobair said sometimes LED bulbs consume only 12 per cent electricity to provide 100 per cent light of an incandescent lamp or conventional bulb.
The study said about 30MW load could be saved from tube-lights from the existing 120MW of their consumption if their ballasts are replaced with improved ones.
The study found that fans used in residences, offices and other places are consuming 1300MW of electricity. But this consumption is possible to bring down to 780MW by using efficient fans through replacement of the existing ones. In that case, 520MW of electricity will be saved.
Mr Zobair said the existing fans normally consume 80-100 watt of electricity. But now efficient fan was invented and these fans consume 60 watt of electricity.
The highest electricity is now being consumed by motors used for different purposes in industries and other places. The study says the motors consume 1800MW. But if 'variable drive'-a new device-is installed in the motor, it will improve its efficiency and reduce the electricity consumption. Through this device, 20 per cent load could be reduced in each motor and in total 360MW load could be reduced, the study found.
The refrigerators consume 350MW of electricity while air-conditioners consume 1600MW electricity. But once inverters are installed in the compressors of the refrigerators and air-conditioners, this will improve significantly their efficiency and reducing their consumption.
In this case, 70MW load will be reduced in refrigerators while 640MW load will be saved from the air conditioners.
He said the efficient devices are now costly. But reducing their prices by reducing taxes and giving incentives, the people could be encouraged to use the energy efficient devices and equipment.
He said the commercial value of the potential saving of 2,640MW electricity is big as it requires about US$6 billion investment to produce this amount of electricity. Side by side, if we generate this amount of electricity by gas, it needs 140 million cubic feet of gas per day, which value is also huge.