Efficient lighting will benefit regional economies - RCEEL chairman

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The application of efficient lighting technologies would definitely benefit regional economies. Yet, such applications should be followed by appropriate legislation if they were to comply with economic development goals, Chairman Regional Centre for Energy Efficient Lighting (RCEEL) Krishan Deheragoda said.

He was speaking on ‘Transforming Markets’ and ‘Business models for encouraging energy efficient lighting’ at the launch of RCEEL in Colombo on Monday.

Deheragoda said that the RCEEL would catalyse policy changes and legislative reforms in respective areas encouraging further investment in research and application.

The Regional Centre was established within the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority for the purpose of introducing, developing and promoting efficient lighting technologies in South Asia.

We need a Regional Centre for Energy Efficient Lighting in South Asia and it is important because the majority of people still live in total darkness, particularly the rural communities. Light is only a distant dream to them.

Statistics has it, that nearly one billion people in South Asia still have no access to electricity at all, he said.

It is a well known fact that rural electrification is interrelated with rural poverty. Previous studies show that higher the rate of electrification the lower the incidences of poverty. For the provision of lighting alleviates poverty by enhancing the quality of life, providing for cleaner environments, increasing security and educational opportunities for children.

Therefore, the way out of darkness is also a way out poverty. Realizing this fact, the RCEEL envisions to ‘Light up South Asia - cleanly and efficiently, he said.

In the long run, the RCEEL would help produce clean, affordable, sustainable, high-quality energy that will benefit underdeveloped communities in the region.

This would also control the national demand for energy, Deheragoda said.

The Centre was set up with the funding from the United States Agency for International Development. The USAID has committed up to $800,000 (Rs 91.16 million) through its South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/Energy) program for this endeavour. The total cost of establishing the RCEEL is estimated at $5 million (Rs.569.75 million).

The SLSEA will provide approximately $1.8 million in cash or in kind, while additional support is expected from other funds.