We believe in making energy solutions affordable and accessible

In an interview with EPR Magazine, Animesh Mishraa, Chief General Manager, Head (Sales & CCPR), EESL talks about Control & Automation as an effective tool for energy conservation and scouring the globe for best-in-class products and distributing them throughout the country.

How do you look at the importance of energy efficiency in the current scenario? 

India’s energy sector has undergone a sea of changes and adopting energy efficiency has become vital for the sector. The traditional centralised model is now no longer viable to meet the demands of modern energy landscape. With rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, the nature of energy demand has changed drastically. The rise in demand of renewable energy has also necessitated the need for smart electricity and a smarter, more flexible grid. 

Smart metering is one of the most comprehensive tools in the Indian distribution sector’s arsenal to usher in a new milieu of energy measurability. The Smart Meter National Programme, has seen over 16 lakh smart meters installed across the country, resulting in a large-scale reform of the sector. Smart meters are also making DISCOMs agile by offering lead indicators on demand and mitigating the need for manual checking. They enable auto collection of meters read over the air, reducing the need for manual intervention, remote connect/ disconnect and enabling digital payments of bills.

How is technology evolving for energy saving and being efficient in generation, transmission, distribution? 

The creation of a digitalised and interconnected energy ecosystem is a key imperative. We have already begun moving in this direction, with the advent of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Smart metering is the first step towards the creation of a smart grid and great progress has been made in this regard. 

These driving forces will change the way energy is managed, distributed and utlilised. With a smarter and digitalised grid, new touch-points will emerge across the value chain. The ability to track electricity usage will alter consumption habits, while the remote monitoring by DISCOMs will enable a more efficient distribution system. These two, when combined will streamline the energy system, leading to efficient usage and distribution, which would further germinate increased energy and monetary savings. 

EESL functions with the belief that it is essential to adopt a market-led approach to make efficient and future ready technology solutions accessible, affordable, and available. The initiatives implemented by EESL are worthy of global recognition and replicability.

What are the trending design features that lead to efficiency in energy grids and distribution networks? 

Delicensing, decentralisation, digitalisation and decarbonisation are the key game-changing disruptions that can modernise the power sector and help overcome the existing loopholes in the country’s power system. These trends are paving the way for new models for improving customer service, based on digital disruption and customer centricity.

What are the digital and IoT solutions being developed for energy efficiency in renewable energy? 

Smart meters enable DISCOMs to forecast energy demand cycles in real-time, and swiftly rebalance the grid’s energy sources, achieving renewable energy infusion. With smart meters, DISCOMS can record and anticipate fluctuations throughout the day, helping them explore ‘Time of Use (ToU) tariffs’ that accurately reflect energy prices. 

Through the deployment of Smart Meters, consumers have access to a prepaid billing model, which is quite remarkable, as it enables the consumers to pay in accordance with their ability, convenience and helps rationalise electricity consumption. 

EESL is implementing the Energy Efficient Pump Programme to distribute BEE 5-star energy efficient agricultural pumps and ensures a minimum of 30 percent reduction in energy consumption with smart control panels which can be remotely operated to enhance the ease of operation of pumps by the farmers.  

What are the latest developments in automation solutions for efficient energy management in residential and commercial buildings? 

Monitoring, Control and Automation plays a very important role in energy management. Control & Automation is an effective tool for energy conservation and have improved quality of operations to a great level due to recent technological advancement. Theseare the various smart technologies that can improve the building operations:

HVAC – EESL Energy Solutions had been retrofitting conventional buildings with energy efficient HVAC. A huge chunk of energy consumption in any industry is by the HVAC; hence it is necessary to ensure that the energy consumed for HVAC is optimised and efficient HVAC system use multiple sensors for monitoring and control. Smart HVAC controls can limit energy consumption in unoccupied building zones, detect and diagnose faults, and reduce HVAC usage, particularly during times of peak energy demand. 

Energy Efficient Lighting – EESL Energy Solutions Lighting wing is a expert in sustainable, energy-efficient LED lighting. We offer a broad spectrum of materials such as tube light, bulb, streetlights, panel lights and other LED lighting solutions for commercial and residential applications. We scour the globe for best-in-class LED lighting products and distribute them throughout the country. Energy-efficient lighting LED provide twice the lumens per watt of electricity than legacy metal halide fixtures. Luminaire light level controls are rapidly developing and gaining market recognition.

Plug Loads – In existing buildings, smart plug load controls consist of auto-controlled receptacles and power strips that rely on time scheduling, motion sensing, or load detection to completely cut off power to equipment that is not in use.  

EESL’s Super-Efficient AC Program (ESEAP) – With the goal of integrating energy efficiency into India’s cooling sector, EESL has initiated a first of its kind, SuperEfficient Air Conditioning programme.

Can you share some of the latest solutions from your company for energy efficiency? 

With our vision to provide universal access to sustainable energy solutions and enable a low carbon future, along with delivering socio-economic impact, we always strive towards unlocking the energy efficiency market in India. EESL has been implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency portfolio across sectors like lighting, buildings, smart metering, agriculture, etc. With the concerted efforts towards building a robust ecosystem for LED lighting in India UJALA & SLNP have brought a market transformation in energy efficiency sector. 

Under UJALA scheme, LED Tube lights and Energy efficient fans have also been provided to domestic consumers for replacement of conventional and inefficient variant. As of date 36.77 Crore LED bulbs have been distributed and over 72.17 lakh LED tube lights and 23.58 lakh energy efficient fans under the program. Under SLNP, we have about 1.19 crore LED street lights across India. This has resulted in estimated energy savings of 8.01 billion kWh per year with avoided peak demand of 1,334 MW and estimated GHG emission reduction of 5.51 million tCO2 per year and estimated annual monetarysavings of `5,605 crore in electricity bills of municipalities.

We are now replicating the revolution brought about by the LED programmes to our other initiatives like: 

RAISE – EESL has taken up the mantle of retrofitting office airconditioning and ventilation systems, as a part of its “Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor air quality for Safety and Efficiency” initiative. 

IEES – EESL is also providing an integrated Energy Efficiency Solutions (IEES) as a package for industries, commercial buildings and facilities. The package includes the following interventions:

• • • Energy Efficient LED Lighting System
    • Energy Efficient Electric Motors (IE-3 Class)
    • Super-Efficient Air-Conditioners (SEAC)
    • Tri-Generation • Green Transportation System (E-Vehicles)
    • Improved Air-Quality System for Occupational Safety & Energy Efficiency – A COVID-19 mitigation initiative

Furthermore, EESL is aiming to soon venture into the provision of energy efficient and sustainable induction cooktop, brushless direct current fans, and invertor bulbs.