Efficiency and energy

• Despite significant growth in electricity generation and renewable energy additions, India’s power demand has not met its peak demand, leading to a widening deficit.

• New power production is time-consuming, especially if fossil-fuel-based, despite India’s efforts to integrate renewable power into the power grid.

• India’s energy efficiency scheme, UJALA, has reduced the cost of energy-efficient LED bulbs from about ₹500 to ₹70.

• The Street Lighting National Programme installed over 1.34 crore LED lamps, reducing peak demand by over 1,500 MW.

• The UJALA scheme has helped India save over $10 billion and avoided building over 9,500 MW of new generation capacity.

• With rapid urbanization and rising per-capita energy consumption, peak power demand reached 250 GW last year.

• India is the third largest power consumer globally, with plans to add another 90 GW of coal-based capacity by 2032.

• Greater energy efficiency mandates are needed across sectors such as buildings, home appliances, and MSMEs.