Three lakh LED street-lights across Kolkata soon

After the success of a trial installation of 300 LED street-lights in Kolkata, the energy-saving option will be seen across the entire city soon, an official said Tuesday.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) participated in a unique global trial of LED outdoor lighting organised by The Climate Group (TCG), an international NGO, in 2011-2012. Other collaborators included the West Bengal Pollution Control Board.

"After the success of the pilot of our Light Savers project, we are planning to extend it to the entire city which would need about three lakh lights. We are hopeful of implementing it next year. We are in talks with the KMC," Aditi Dass, director for programmes at TCG, told IANS on the sidelines of a climate change conference organised by the CII here.

LED (light-emitting diode) lights have a lifespan of 10-12 years or 50,000 hours of burning. Normal filament bulbs can be used for a few months. In addition, the LED light is more directional and visibility is greater.

As part of the pilot, 300 LEDs were installed in various areas, including along the S.N. Banerjee road, a major roadway near the KMC headquarters.

The LEDs replaced the yellowish high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps previously used in the same location and 52 percent of energy saving was achieved.

The cost of the project was Rs.1.32 crore.

The venture was co-funded by the power ministry, through the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, and the KMC.

The scale-up, Dass said, would be via energy service company or energy savings company (ESCO) mode.

TCG has also worked with the Haldia Development Authority (HDA) to put up 1,000 lights that saves the authorities Rs.5 lakh per month, Dass said.