Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) is the latest in thing in town. The government has already approved the National CFL Project, under which it aims to substitute nearly 30 million incandescent bulbs currently used by domestic sector by CFLs.
Now that might be a daunting challenge and may even invite criticism from some corners of society, research shows that if properly disposed off, the technology can do wonders for Pakistan.
Similar energy conservation strategies have already been adopted by many countries such as Cuba - triggering a wave that has spread across continents, with countries like Argentina, Canada, Italy, U.K, Russia, Philippines and even Australia either phasing in or have planned to phase in CFL to replace incandescent light bulbs between 2010 and 2018.
And its no wonder why. The substitution of 1 million incandescent light bulbs reduces the high peak demand of any countrys electric generating system by 30-60 megawatts, according to World Energy Council. Using these estimates, if Pakistan really manages to replace 30 million incandescent bulbs, energy demand would ease by 900 to 1800 megawatts.
Even if more conservative estimates are taken -assuming that each bulb is used for just 4 hours a day on an average - this project will reduce electricity demand by 400 MW, according to BR Research estimates based on the data compiled by Energy Trek Initiatives, a US-based organization that encourages and facilitates energy conservation and use of alternative energy.
Now, if electricity deficit figures given by PPIB are considered, which ranged from 1000 to 2000 MW during the past six months, a 400-mw cut in energy demand would lower the electricity shortfall by 20 to 40 percent.
Using CFL, consumers would also save Rs900 in tariff per bulb per annum, since according to ETI, CFL in contrast to incandescent bulb consumes 70 percent less electricity. Similar cost saving estimates have been reported by Philips Pakistan.
So, based on the assumption that a 23-watt CFL bulb produces as much light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb, 30 million CFLs would reduce the electricity bill by Rs24 billion annually, against the total project cost of Rs6.698 billion.
So what should the government do to ensure that this potential is realized? Well, not only it needs to create energy efficiency awareness but also introduce a plan that schedules to phase out the use of incandescent bulbs. To achieve this, a policy should be drafted to subsidize cost of energy saving bulbs and foster local industry that will develop and manufacture energy efficient lightning equipment, including LEDs.
In addition, government also needs to put an end to inefficient or high energy consuming electrical equipment, set maximum electricity consumption standards for domestic electrical appliances and provide economic incentives to companies and industries to foster energy efficiency.
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ORDINARY BULB VS ENERGY SAVER 100W Bulb 23W CFL
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KW 0.1 0.023
KWH @5 hrs daily 0.5 0.115
Unit consumed per annum 180 41.4
Charges @Rs.6/unit 1080 248.4
Total annual bill (Rs) 1080 248.4
Annual saving / bulb (Rs) 0 831.6
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PROJECT COST & BENEFIT ANALYSIS
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Total number of CFLs 30 mn
Annual saving / bulb (Rs) 831.6
Total annual saving in electricity bill (Rs in bn) 24.948
Total Project cost (Rs in bn) (6.698)
Benefit (Rs in bn) 18.26
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Source: BR research
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