Energy Efficient Street Lighting through Power Savers- Guntur
The Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) administers major public functions - street lighting; water distribution, treatment and pumping; sewage treatment and pumping - much like a public administration. Street lighting is one of the most important services provided by the GMC and is an integral part of the cityscape. Streetlights ensure proper visibility at night and assist in facilitating citizens' safety.
Relative to other public facilities, street lighting consumes a tremendous amount of energy (kWh) in its provision of services (CCP survey 2001). The average total units burned per connected load is 265,551 kWh/month, for which the consumption charges are Rs. 955 983 /month (at Rs. 3.60/unit at 100% burning). The actual amount payable by the GMC is Rs. 1,072,074 (based on the monthly average for electricity bills in 2002). Therefore, on average, the losses are approximately Rs.116,000 /month or Rs. 1,392,000/year.
The above analysis suggests that there is a significant scope for energy savings through providing an energy efficient street lighting system in the corporation area. Taking stock of this, ICLEI planned an intervention in consultation with GMC officials, details of which are briefed below.
Pilot Project Details
The "Energy Efficient Street Lighting System", a two-month pilot project with a capacity of 35 kilovolt amperes (KVA) and using Servo Max power saver* instruments, was initiated on March 4, 2003. The locations for the pilot project in Guntur included Hindu College, Ponnur Road, Shankar Vilas, and Krishna Picture Palace.
Servo Max power saver instruments were specially designed for the four specified locations and, in particular, to suit each one's unique lighting load. The pilot project was designed to last two months, thereby providing two weeks for readings without Power Saver (i.e. weeks 1 and 8) and six weeks for readings with Power Saver (i.e. weeks 2 through 7), for a total period of eight weeks of observation. The pilot project was supported by ICLEI under an agreement with GMC, which provided that once the results of the pilot project were substantiated GMC would implement its recommendations across the entire city in a phase by phase manner.
Results Achieved
The data gathered during the two-month period of observation under the pilot project suggests that there is a definite energy savings associated with the implementation of Power Saver technology. As demonstrated in the table below, annual energy savings from Power Saver in the four test locations was estimated to be Rs. 82 431.
Relative to other public facilities, street lighting consumes a tremendous amount of energy (kWh) in its provision of services (CCP survey 2001). The average total units burned per connected load is 265,551 kWh/month, for which the consumption charges are Rs. 955 983 /month (at Rs. 3.60/unit at 100% burning). The actual amount payable by the GMC is Rs. 1,072,074 (based on the monthly average for electricity bills in 2002). Therefore, on average, the losses are approximately Rs.116,000 /month or Rs. 1,392,000/year.
The above analysis suggests that there is a significant scope for energy savings through providing an energy efficient street lighting system in the corporation area. Taking stock of this, ICLEI planned an intervention in consultation with GMC officials, details of which are briefed below.
Pilot Project Details
The "Energy Efficient Street Lighting System", a two-month pilot project with a capacity of 35 kilovolt amperes (KVA) and using Servo Max power saver* instruments, was initiated on March 4, 2003. The locations for the pilot project in Guntur included Hindu College, Ponnur Road, Shankar Vilas, and Krishna Picture Palace.
Servo Max power saver instruments were specially designed for the four specified locations and, in particular, to suit each one's unique lighting load. The pilot project was designed to last two months, thereby providing two weeks for readings without Power Saver (i.e. weeks 1 and 8) and six weeks for readings with Power Saver (i.e. weeks 2 through 7), for a total period of eight weeks of observation. The pilot project was supported by ICLEI under an agreement with GMC, which provided that once the results of the pilot project were substantiated GMC would implement its recommendations across the entire city in a phase by phase manner.
Results Achieved
The data gathered during the two-month period of observation under the pilot project suggests that there is a definite energy savings associated with the implementation of Power Saver technology. As demonstrated in the table below, annual energy savings from Power Saver in the four test locations was estimated to be Rs. 82 431.
Savings in Amount with Power Saver
| Location | AverageUnits Consumed & Cost (kWh/week) | AverageUnits Consumed & Cost (amt/week @ 3.5Rs./unit) | AverageUnits Consumed & Cost (amt/yr in Rs.) | Average% Savings (kWh) | Average % Savings (amt/yr in Rs.) |
| Krishna Pic. Palace | 165.60 | 579.60 | 30,139.20 | 21.30% | 6,419.65 |
| Ponnuru Road | 369.58 | 1,293.53 | 67,263.56 | 22.47% | 15,114.12 |
| Hindu College | 555.80 | 1,945.30 | 101,155.60 | 26.11% | 26,411.73 |
| Shankar | 589.00 | 2,061.50 | 107,198.00 | 32.17% | 34,485.60 |
As a result of the reduced electricity consumption from improved energy efficiency, the pilot project resulted in substantial cost savings, Green House Gas (GHG) emissions reduction, and environment improvements. The analysis in the table below details the reduction in GHG emissions achieved through retrofitting the street lighting system.
Street lighting consumption Particulars
Street lighting consumption Particulars
| Year Equivalent | Column (a): Actual kWh (Per yr) | Column (b): Savings with Energy Efficiency Measures (Kwh/yr @ 25.51% actual) | Actual Equivalent of CO2 (In t/yr) Based on (a) | Savings in of CO2 (In t/yr) Based on (b) |
| 00-01 | 33,59,863 | 8,57,101 | 4,139 | 1,055 |
| 01-02 | 36,50,676 | 9,31,287 | 4,497 | 1,147 |
Possibility of extending to the entire Guntur city
In order to retrofit all of Guntur City's streetlights with thyristor controlled Power Savers without altering the city's current street lighting requirements would require a load of 1100 kVA (i.e. 345 Power Savers ranging from 1 kVA to 10 kVA designed load). GMC is considering extending this system to the entire city through ESCO (Energy Saving Company).
*The Power Saver instrument is constituted of an Electrical & Electronic circuitry of filters and chokes etc. which is expected and guaranteed to give at least 15% to 20% savings in energy consumption charges for the street lighting load.
In order to retrofit all of Guntur City's streetlights with thyristor controlled Power Savers without altering the city's current street lighting requirements would require a load of 1100 kVA (i.e. 345 Power Savers ranging from 1 kVA to 10 kVA designed load). GMC is considering extending this system to the entire city through ESCO (Energy Saving Company).
*The Power Saver instrument is constituted of an Electrical & Electronic circuitry of filters and chokes etc. which is expected and guaranteed to give at least 15% to 20% savings in energy consumption charges for the street lighting load.
