The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), have released the State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index that assesses state policies and programs aimed at improving energy efficiency across various sectors.

This index is a result of BEE and AEEE’s commitment to create awareness about energy efficiency as a resource and to develop an action plan for energy conservation initiatives.

A set of energy conversation guidelines for energy intensive industries that are covered under the government’s Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) Program have also been released, which have been developed by BEE. These will serve as a standard reference document for energy intensive industries and help them achieve high operational efficiency of energy consuming utilities thereby improving their energy performance.

The index has 63 indicators across buildings, industries, municipalities, transport, agriculture, and distribution companies (DISCOMs) with four, cross-cutting indicators. States are categorized based on their efforts and achievements towards energy efficiency implementation, as ‘Front Runner’, ‘Achiever’, ‘Contender’ and ‘Aspirant’. The ‘Front Runner’ states in the inaugural edition of the Index are: Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Rajasthan based on the available data.

 

Source: AEEE

 

The index also examines states’ policies and regulations, financing mechanisms, institutional capacity, adoption of energy efficiency measures and energy savings achieved. The required data was collected from the concerned state departments such as DISCOMs, urban development departments, etc., with the help of state designated agencies (SDAs) nominated by the BEE.

Apart from the data furnished by SDAs, the AEEE also collected information from various central government sources such as: Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) General Review; Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) annual report on the performance of state road transport undertakings (SRTU); BEE program implementation reports; Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE); and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).

While most states have implemented national programs designed by BEE and EESL, the ‘Front Runner’ and ‘Achiever’ states have several individual initiatives as well.

Secretary, Ministry of Power, A.K. Bhalla, said, “Efficient use of energy is the fastest, cheapest and cleanest way to meet India’s rising energy demand and power the nation’s growth. The State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index will help in implementing national energy efficiency initiatives in states and meet both state as well as national goals on energy security, energy access and climate change.”

BEE is also promoting energy efficiency initiatives in the country under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, including promotion of energy conservation measures in existing facilities through the Energy Service Company (ESCO) model.

India is moving towards a more efficient energy distribution system. Energy efficiency is as important as shifting from fossils to renewables. Energy efficient systems lead to reduced costs and carbon emission.

In March 2018, BEE issued a tender for the empanelment or re-empanelment of eligible entities as Energy Service Company (ESCO).

In June 2017, BEE also developed Energy Conservation Building Code(ECBC) 2017 with technical support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the U.S.-India bilateral Partnership to Advance Clean Energy – Deployment Technical Assistance (PACE-D TA) Program.

Apart from BEE, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is also involved in the enhancement of energy efficiency sector. Recently, the World Bank announced that it will provide $220 million in loans and a $80 million guarantee to EESL. The funds will be utilized for EESL’s India Energy Efficiency Scale-Up Program which is aimed at increasing energy savings in residential and public sectors, strengthening EESL’s institutional capacity and enhancing its access to commercial financing.