BEE delivers RS 1.6-trn benefits

Hyderabad: The Union Ministry of Power-led Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) achieved significant milestones in the fiscal year 2021-22, translating into monetary benefits worth Rs 1,60,721 crore giving a big boost to the economy.

In a media release, BEE said it has not only saved substantial amounts of energy but is also successful in contributing towards reducing carbon emissions and fostering sustainable development in India.

Stating that their initiatives are aimed at ‘saving energy, saving money,’ BEE said their efforts paved the way for impressive energy savings with a staggering 249.88 billion units of electricity and 23.85 million tonnes of oil equivalent in thermal energy annually. This translates into a total energy saving of 44.43 million tonnes of oil equivalent, which is a remarkable 6 per cent of the country’s total primary energy supply. These savings have also yielded significant economic benefits, amounting to a whopping Rs 160,721 crore, providing a much-needed boost to the economy.

“Rapid economic growth has naturally led to increased energy consumption. The energy efficiency initiatives could able to ensure substantial savings,” Milind Deora, Secretary, BEE, said during an interactive programme with the CEOs and HODs of the State Designated Agencies of Southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and UTs of Andaman Nicobar and Pondicherry. BEE Director Abhishek Sharma was also present. The Secretary emphasised the urgent need for enhancing public participation through effective communication strategies for the benefit of public/stakeholders in the area of energy efficiency and conservation. By promoting energy efficiency across all sectors, one could ensure meeting the energy needs with minimal environmental impact.

In the South, BEE plans to concentrate on boosting energy efficiency for sustainable development in major, rapidly growing, cosmopolitan cities like Hyderabad, along with Bangalore, Chennai, Vizag, and Trivandrum, to demonstrate the impact of energy efficiency projects. Deora stated this during the virtual meeting programme.

According to the statement, BEE’s flagship programme, the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme, has played a pivotal role in improving energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries. The current PAT cycle, spanning 2022-23 to 2024-25, targets an overall energy saving of 8.485 million tonnes of oil equivalent. Covering over 1300 units across 13 sectors, the scheme has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fostered energy conservation, it added.