The Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) has announced plans to install solar-powered LED streetights in Gurgaon. The LED lamps, mounted on a four-metre pole and attached to solar photo-voltaic cells, will illuminate all the major streets of the city. HAREDA has also sketched out similar plans of setting up LED streetlight networks in 14 other districts of Haryana.
LEDs help cut down on the power consumption figures greatly, while providing more energy as compared to conventional lights. “LEDs have 80% efficiency, which means around 80% of the electrical energy you supply gets converted to light, which is quite high compared to conventional light sources, which have only 20% efficiency,” said an official. The light systems will also be fitted with photo-voltaic batteries encased in rain- and tamper-proof covers.
According to HAREDA officials in Chandigarh, the agency is looking for private manufacturers of LED light systems in Haryana, and that the tender for the project has just been floated. “We will get private firms to manufacture and install the lighting systems,” said the official. He added that the project budget and timelines are yet to be finalized.
The deadline for the private firms to submit their proposals is August 12, after which the plans will be pushed further. “All the participating private firms will submit samples of LEDs manufactured by them. These samples will then be tested in our laboratories for authenticity,” added the official.
He said, “LEDs are very cost effective. An average bulb lasts for more than 10 years, which saves a whole lot of replacement costs.”
