Pilot project reduces power consumption by 23 pc

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A pilot project in suburban Narsingdi has proved that mass use of energy saving lamps could drastically reduce power consumption more than what was expected earlier by the experts, reports BSS.
Rural Development Board (RDB) officials told the news agency Sunday that contrary to their expectation to save 15 per cent, the pilot project showed that actually it could save 23 per cent electricity in the two areas.
The sources quoting residents said the use of energy saving lamps in the past one month at Madhabdi and Kalai Gobindapur areas under Narsingdi Palli Bidyut Samity-1 (PBS) drastically reduced the power bills of some 1,500 consumers.
The pilot projects of energy saving lamp was opened on June 21 by Mohammad Ashabuddin in the areas. It was estimated that energy saving lamp would save 77 per cent of electricity in the two projects. After 15 days of the projects, an assessment was done by PBS-1 and PBS-2 that the total 23 per cent of electricity was saved by using Energy saving lamp in two project areas.
Narsingdi district army commanding officer Elias, who is coordinating the power project said Energy Pac Ltd and Rural Electrification Board (REB) have jointly financed the projects which have been mooted in the district by Md Mozammel Hossain.
The total electricity required for Narsingdi district is 100 to 105 MW. If the energy saving bulb is used in the whole district then total 23 MW electricity could be saved and if such system is used all over the country then 500 to 600 MW electricity will be saved, he hoped.
An amount of Tk 120 million (12 crore) is required for the initial stage of the project for the whole district PBS-1 and PBS-2 areas but the Palli Bidyut Samity-1 and Samity-2 cannot start the project in the district due to non ability of fund.
The project was taken as a power cell study earlier calculated that 273 MW could be saved through energy saving lamps or complete florescent lamps (CFLs) alone while 1100 MW through load management measures and holiday staggering/ readjustment in commercial and industrial sectors during peak hours.
The country now faced with a shortfall over 1500 MW of power during the peak hours. "You will hardly see any power shortage in the country tomorrow evening if energy saving CFLs (complete florescent lamps) alone replace the existing household lights overnight," said energy analyst Imtiaz Ahmed of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
Independent energy consultant Fazlur Rahman echoed him saying, "Our studies suggest that the energy efficient devices like CFL and some other policy steps can save nearly 1,500 megawatt electricity" against the current shortfall of nearly 1500 MW.
"I would like to be a bit conservative in calculating the volume as our study suggests that 800 MW to 1100 MW power can immediately be saved through introduction of the available energy efficient devices, efficient load management and holiday staggering in commercial and industrial sector," former director general of Power Cell engineer BD Rahamatullah said.
Several private sector entrepreneurs and business persons in power sector said the Power Cell study did not take into account fully the potential of energy saving devices in other electrical appliances like fans and air conditioners.
"If these devices are used, more power can be saved," said Shamsur Rahman Pannu, who has invented solar-based gadget to regulate unnecessary use of electricity in streetlights and indoor appliances and use of gas in kitchen ovens.
Rahamatullah said the introduction of energy efficient measures would not require any extra investment and rather it help earn additional revenue enhancing commercial viability of the sector and ensuring reliable and smooth power supply.
He said the Power Division has prepared a proposal to introduce the CFLs at household levels under an arrangement, which will enable the consumers to purchase selected quality lamps free of cost from designated shops subject to adjustment of the price in phases with their electricity bill.
The use of CFLs, Rahmatullah said, would cut the electricity bill at the end of the consumers who will pay the price of the energy efficient bulbs paying the bills at existing rate in 11 months. "Then their monthly power bill will also be reduced significantly," he said.