Sustainable energy :

South Asia has unique advantage

Charumini de Silva

South Asia has a unique advantage, as the region's lighting infrastructure is in its infancy, South Asia has the opportunity to learn from both the achievements and faults experienced by the Western countries and promote processes, technology and develop programs that have the best chance at success. Therefore, education in energy-efficient lighting technologies and applications can ensure the energy security of South Asia, Lighting Research Centre (LRC) Research Director and Principal Investigator for the Project Dr N. Narendran, said.

With the widespread benefits expected through the introduction of efficient lighting, the Regional Centre for Lighting (RCL) was launched recently in Sri Lanka. RCL is hosted within the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) with the assistance from the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI), funded by USAID.

Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) Chairman, Dr. Krishan Deheragoda said that to increase the awareness and accessibility to energy-efficient lighting technologies throughout South Asia, the RCL is dedicated in improving South Asia's economy through lighting manufacturing. "We place much effort into developing collaborative relationships among industry, Government and academic activities to implement regional manufacturing of sustainable lighting products and develop state-of-the-art performance testing facilities."