Energy-saving lamp to revolutionise efficiency
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
A Z M Anas
Bangladesh will start replacing traditional "incandescent" bulbs with lower-wattage lights early next year, officials said Tuesday, in a frantic attempt to save energy and boost efficiency.
Under the ground-breaking initiative, the government will give out energy-efficient 15-20 watt compact fluorescent lights (CFL) free of costs among nine million households in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet cities to pare back gas consumption.
The energy-saving lamp uses up to 75 per cent less power and lasts ten times longer, but they cost less than $1.0 each. By contrast, incandescent lamps are inefficient, requiring replacement every 1,000 hours or so.
"Any move to save energy and boost its efficiency is a crying need," a senior power division official said.
"It's a huge opportunity. Imagine, the country will be able to save at least 350 megawatt of electricity by just using such bulbs. If the current plan is implemented, it will keep the government from building a large power plant," the official added.
Bangladesh relies heavily on gas to generate electricity, but this fuel source is expected to dry up by 2015, threatening to halt power generation across the country. Nearly 90 per cent of the country's gas resources is used to generate power, making it the single largest fuel source.
The World Bank has estimated that the energy-starved nation could avoid pumping some $500 million in a 350 MW power plant by just wider use of CFL.
Dr Khurshid Alam, an energy expert at German development agency GTZ, said the aim is to phase out traditional bulbs by 2012.
"If the goal is achieved, it will save an astounding 850 MW of electricity," he said.
Officials at Power Division and Economic Relations Division said the Washington lender is in talks with the government to fork out US$115 million in loan to finance the renewable energy programme, run by the biggest state alternative energy lender IDCOL.
Bangladesh's renewable energy market is growing at an exponential 56 per cent a year, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The $150 million market is almost overwhelmingly dominated by solar system and experts forecast it would top $500 million by 2012.
Of the total lending, officials said $15 million will be earmarked for CFL distribution among the households located in three biggest energy-consuming cities.
"A bank mission just concluded talks with us. We agreed to press ahead with the idea. It will help save energy and boost efficiency," Additional Secretary of ERD Mesbah Uddin told the FE. He said the loan is expected to be dispensed early next year.
ERD officials, however, have pressed for grants from the bank to finance the programme that is designed to accelerate the replacement of "incandescent" bulbs.
No World Bank official was immediately available for comment.
German development agency GTZ will provide technical support for the programme, a GTZ official said.
Nearly nine million households of Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions will be covered under the incentive programme.
Power division officials said the Bank has experience in replacing traditional bulbs with efficient ones in Indonesia, while it is currently working to popularise use of CFL in Ethiopia.
Last week, the European Commission adopted new regulations that would phase traditional light bulbs out in Europe by 2012. The United States will do so by 2014.
Renewable energy experts said Australia, Brazil and Switzerland have already got rid of such lights.
Even though modern bulbs are cheap, but inefficient, because only around 5.0 per cent of the energy they use is turned into light while the rest is frittered away.
Bangladesh will start replacing traditional "incandescent" bulbs with lower-wattage lights early next year, officials said Tuesday, in a frantic attempt to save energy and boost efficiency.
Under the ground-breaking initiative, the government will give out energy-efficient 15-20 watt compact fluorescent lights (CFL) free of costs among nine million households in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet cities to pare back gas consumption.
The energy-saving lamp uses up to 75 per cent less power and lasts ten times longer, but they cost less than $1.0 each. By contrast, incandescent lamps are inefficient, requiring replacement every 1,000 hours or so.
"Any move to save energy and boost its efficiency is a crying need," a senior power division official said.
"It's a huge opportunity. Imagine, the country will be able to save at least 350 megawatt of electricity by just using such bulbs. If the current plan is implemented, it will keep the government from building a large power plant," the official added.
Bangladesh relies heavily on gas to generate electricity, but this fuel source is expected to dry up by 2015, threatening to halt power generation across the country. Nearly 90 per cent of the country's gas resources is used to generate power, making it the single largest fuel source.
The World Bank has estimated that the energy-starved nation could avoid pumping some $500 million in a 350 MW power plant by just wider use of CFL.
Dr Khurshid Alam, an energy expert at German development agency GTZ, said the aim is to phase out traditional bulbs by 2012.
"If the goal is achieved, it will save an astounding 850 MW of electricity," he said.
Officials at Power Division and Economic Relations Division said the Washington lender is in talks with the government to fork out US$115 million in loan to finance the renewable energy programme, run by the biggest state alternative energy lender IDCOL.
Bangladesh's renewable energy market is growing at an exponential 56 per cent a year, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The $150 million market is almost overwhelmingly dominated by solar system and experts forecast it would top $500 million by 2012.
Of the total lending, officials said $15 million will be earmarked for CFL distribution among the households located in three biggest energy-consuming cities.
"A bank mission just concluded talks with us. We agreed to press ahead with the idea. It will help save energy and boost efficiency," Additional Secretary of ERD Mesbah Uddin told the FE. He said the loan is expected to be dispensed early next year.
ERD officials, however, have pressed for grants from the bank to finance the programme that is designed to accelerate the replacement of "incandescent" bulbs.
No World Bank official was immediately available for comment.
German development agency GTZ will provide technical support for the programme, a GTZ official said.
Nearly nine million households of Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions will be covered under the incentive programme.
Power division officials said the Bank has experience in replacing traditional bulbs with efficient ones in Indonesia, while it is currently working to popularise use of CFL in Ethiopia.
Last week, the European Commission adopted new regulations that would phase traditional light bulbs out in Europe by 2012. The United States will do so by 2014.
Renewable energy experts said Australia, Brazil and Switzerland have already got rid of such lights.
Even though modern bulbs are cheap, but inefficient, because only around 5.0 per cent of the energy they use is turned into light while the rest is frittered away.