Use of electronic ballasts advised to save power

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Power consumption can be reduced to a great extent by installing electronic ballasts in place of existing magnetic ones of the tube lights in nearly 3,000 readymade garment (RMG) factories in the country.
In terms of power capacity, the savings can translate into 45 to 60 MW per day, which can reduce some load on the national grid.
This was revealed by a recent study titled 'Energy Saving with Electronic Ballasts in Readymade Garment (RMG) Factories,' conducted by the Prokaushali Sangsad Limited (PSL), a researched-based organisation, reports BSS.
The garments factories can save money ranging from Tk 58,000 to Tk 0.73 million as per their operational size through replacing the ballasts, it mentioned.
Managing Director of PSL Asma Huque said the main objective of the study was to demonstrate the potential technical, economic and environmental benefits to be derived from replacement of magnetic ballasts (MB) with electronic ballasts (EB) of the Fluorescent Tube Lights (FTLs).
During the study, the overall savings in energy consumption from replacement of magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts has been observed to range from 23.74 to 28.54 per cent in the selected lines of the sample factories, she said.
She said electronic ballasts operate with lower power consumption for the same illumination or lighting intensity because of its design.
"Other technical benefits are that the ballasts are designed to have a longer useful life of 30,000 hours in comparison to the magnetic ballasts with 10,000 hours," she added.
An outreach programme would be developed from within Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) to disseminate information on eco-efficiency to all the factory owners for inspiring them to take such kind of intervention," the study made recommendations.
Since world class high quality electronic ballasts are being produced in Bangladesh. It is also recommended that a limit be imposed on production of magnetic ballasts and eventual total stoppage of import of electronic ballasts when the industry is mature.