UP Power Corp to cut carbon footprint

Aims total savings of 1,080 Mw.

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) is embarking on projects to cut carbon footprint in the region of operations of its five distribution companies.

Once implemented, these projects are touted to effect saving of 1,080 Mw of peak demand to the power-starved UPPCL and its distribution companies viz. Purvanchal, Madhayanchal, Dakshinanchal, Pachhimanchal and KESCO.

UPPCL has 40 projects in the pipeline to cut carbon emissions from electricity lighting appliances in the state.

Under UP Lighting Energy Efficiency Project (ULEEP) in consonance with Kyoto Protocol, UPPCL has registered a project at United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) for replacement of incandescent lamps with energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).

India is a signatory to Kyoto Protocol, which is a global agreement to control green-house gases.

In the first project starting July, 3 lakh CFLs priced at Rs 12 apiece will be distributed in exchange for incandescent lamps to the registered consumers of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) in Circles I & II of Varanasi Zone.

The incandescent lamps will be destroyed by machines with advanced technology inhibiting emission of carbon dioxide, thereby, generating 18,365 Certified Emission Reductions (CER) per annum (1 CER=1 metric tonne carbon).

While, UPPCL and UK-based EDF Trading are the project participants, M/s Banyan Environmental Innovations is the private partner.

EDF Trading will purchase the Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), generated out of this Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project activity.

“Along with the urgent need to establish new power plants to augment power generation in UP, we are aware of the importance of protecting environment by capturing carbon emissions,” state energy secretary and UPPCL CMD Navneet Sehgal said.

CER credits are environmental currency issued by UNFCCC after a rigorous procedure. Under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), one CER earns nearly Euros 15. The CER rates vary according to the status of carbon exchanges worldwide.

UPPCL will get 2.5 per cent of carbon credits under the Varanasi project. With an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore, this CDM project is planned to be completed by September.

“Due to higher price of CFL, consumers prefer incandescent bulbs. Under this project, 4 CFLs of equivalent luminosity but lower wattage will be distributed to a consumer,” UPPCL additional MD Narendra Bhushan informed.