EESL signs MoU with AP Govt, to invest Rs 24,700 cr

Visakhapatnam: Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a company under the Union Power Ministry, has signed multiple MoUs, worth Rs 24,700 crores, with the Andhra Pradesh government for energy efficiency and solar projects in the state.

The execution of projects through these MoUs would help the state reduce consumption of power and add over 80,000 jobs in the state, EESL said in a release.

Through the MoUs, EESL would distribute energy efficient domestic appliances like LED bulbs, LED tubelights and 5-star rated fans under the Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDs and Appliances for All (UJALA) programme.

Andhra Pradesh was the first state in the country to execute the UJALA programme for LED bulbs in 2015. EESL will continue to execute the programme in the state for a period of three years.

EESL would also install 50,000 Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV) grid connected agriculture pumps sets in each DISCOM (power distribution company) area. It is acknowledged that irrigation needs are intermittent, between 200 to 250 days in a year, leaving most of the days with additional power available, said the release.

Solar PV grid connected pump sets will bridge the gap and the surplus power may be fed back to the grid, it added.

Other projects to be executed by EESL for the AP government include conversion of 500 government-owned buildings into energy efficient buildings over three years, installation and maintenance of energy efficient LED street lights in 1,000 gram panchayats in the state over a period of 10 years and replacement of over 10 lakh inefficient agricultural pump sets with energy efficient agricultural pump sets over three years, said the release.

Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director, EESL said, "AP has been leading in energy efficiency efforts and stands as an example to other states of the country to emulate best practices. Such commitment will provide a conducive environment for energy efficiency measures to be adopted all over the country"

Under the AMRUT scheme, EESL would work with the AP government in preparation of Investment Grade Energy Audit (IGEA) report for determining potential of implementation of energy efficiency projects in the public water works and/ or sewerage systems, it added.

Majority of the MoUs signed will be led by AP State Energy Efficiency Development Corporation (APSEEDCO), a special purpose vehicle with participation of APTransco, APGenco, Discoms and EESL.

A joint venture of NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID, EESL was set up under the Power Ministry to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects.