“EESL aggregates large-scale demand for products like LED bulbs, induction cookstoves and smart meters, enabling bulk procurement that drastically reduces prices through economies of scale. This passes cost savings directly to consumers and local bodies, boosting affordability without subsidies.”
EESL has implemented some of the world’s largest energy efficiency programmes. How do you prioritise sectors like lighting, smart metering, e-mobility and agriculture for maximum impacts?
In terms of prioritizing sectors, lighting has always played the central role for EESL since lighting is the sector that has the potential to revolutionise the market and consumer. Earlier, EESL has created great impact in the lighting sector through its programs like UJALA and SLNP. Through the UJALA initiative, over 36.13 crore LED bulbs were distributed across India. This has resulted in estimated energy savings of 46.92 billion kWh per year, avoided peak demand of 9,394 MW, and an estimated GHG emission reduction of 38 million t CO2 annually.
EESL not only, with its interventions, does energy efficiency product penetration but also helps create a feasible market & consumer for the products with efficient technology. For example, the LED market reaches more than 22000 gross annual turnover. Till June 2024 under SLNP, EESL installed 1,31,10,745 LED Street Lights in the country, which has resulted in estimated energy savings of about 8,806 Million Units per year. This was achieved by EESL in self-financing mode. EESL is leading the Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP) and has already installed 42,50,815 in states like Haryana (851,666), Uttar Pradesh (12,04,049), Bihar (19,29,353), Rajasthan (1,24,700) and Andaman (74,961) in collaboration with DISCOMs.
Accelerating the large-scale rollout of smart metering across states requires a holistic strategy that integrates policy alignment, technological readiness, financial innovation, and consumer participation. The government has laid out a compelling vision to decarbonize transport and promote electric vehicles (EVs). In the realm of E- Mobility, innovative models like Energy as a Service (EaaS) and Electric Vehicles as a Service (EVaaS) are reshaping India’s energy efficiency landscape. EV leasing, usually for a five-year term, provides clients with a bundled package including charging infrastructure, maintenance, fleet management, and insurance.
This servicebased model reduces upfront capital costs and operational complexity, making clean mobility more accessible for businesses and individuals. By prioritizing outcomes over ownership, such models support faster adoption of sustainable technologies. At same time, CESL is all set to lead India’s transition into hydrogen buses and e-trucks because it combines government backing, proven execution capacity, and innovative financing approaches with the ability to scale solutions nationally.
With initiatives such as UJALA, SLNP and the Smart Meter National Programme, how does EESL ensure adoption of energy-efficient technologies at the grassroots level without government subsidies.
EESL promotes energy-efficient technologies through demand aggregation and innovative financing models that eliminate the need for government subsidies. These approaches make adoption accessible at the grassroots level via programs like UJALA, SLNP, the Smart Meter National Programme and NECP (National Efficient Cooking Programme). EESL aggregates large-scale demand for products like LED bulbs, induction cookstoves and smart meters, enabling bulk procurement that drastically reduces prices through economies of scale. This passes cost savings directly to consumers and local bodies, boosting affordability without subsidies. Under the PAYS model, EESL invests upfront in installations, recovering costs over time from energy savings or benefit-sharing with utilities and municipalities. For SLNP, municipalities pay annuities from reduced electricity bills; for UJALA, consumers got LEDs at low prices or via DISCOM partnerships; and for smart meters, DISCOMs repay through improved billing efficiencies. Collaborations with urban local bodies, gram panchayats, and DISCOMs extend these initiatives to remote areas, including Gram UJALA for rural LEDs funded by carbon credits. Under Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP), EESL has already installed 42,50,815 in states like Haryana (851,666), Uttar Pradesh (12,04,049), Bihar (19,29,353), Rajasthan (1,24,700) and Andaman (74,961) in collaboration with DISCOMs and saved billions of kWh having demonstrating widespread adoption without upfront investments from end-users. Under NECP, EESL has successfully distributed the induction cooktops in Ladakh, Tripura and Andhra Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh, EESL has already supplied induction cooktops and utensils in 11,400 centers, targeting all 55, 607 operational Anganwadi Centers. Till now under SLNP, EESL installed 1,31,10,745 LED Street Lights in the country, which has resulted in estimated energy savings of about 8,806 Million Units per year. This was achieved by EESL in selffinancing mode. Through the UJALA initiative, over 36.13 crore LED bulbs were distributed across India with the help of DISCOMs and other entities.
What role does innovation play in EESL’s business model, and how do you leverage emerging technologies to create scalable and sustainable markets for energy efficiency?
Innovation is a core pillar of EESL’s (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) business model, enabling scalable deployment of energy-saving solutions without relying on public funds. This approach unlocks demand in new sectors through transparent, flexible models like Pay-As-YouSave (PAYS), where upfront costs are covered by EESL and repaid via verified savings, reducing risks for utilities and consumers. EESL emphasizes innovation alongside transformation and transparency to drive large-scale programs, such as LED lighting with increased lumens and BLDC fans saving 50% power consumption of conventional AC fans. Key business models includes DemandAggregation for bulk procurement by slashing cost, deployment of annuity-based street lighting and deferred payment models for buildings and agriculture, e-mobility leasing for government fleets to accelerate EV adoption. One such model is Cooling as a Service (CaaS), which eliminates the need for consumers to buy or maintain cooling equipment. Instead, users simply pay for the cooling they consume. This reduces the high upfront investment barriers, making advanced, energyefficient cooling solutions more accessible to businesses, industries, and government institutions. EESL has been preparing to deploy CaaS across government buildings, commercial setups, and industrial facilities, paving the way for large-scale adoption. And Similarly, Energy as a Service (EaaS) and Electric Vehicles as a Service (EVaaS) are reshaping the efficiency landscape in India. EVaaS, often provided through leasing arrangements, bundles critical offerings such as charging infrastructure, fleet management, maintenance, and insurance, typically over five years. This approach reduces operational complexity, financial risks, and ownership costs while encouraging clean mobility adoption. By shifting focus from product ownership to performance and outcomes, these service-based models democratize access to innovative technologies. Ultimately, such business innovations promote faster and broader integration of low-carbon solutions, enabling a smoother transition toward sustainable, energy-efficient systems across multiple economic sectors. By leveraging emerging technologies, EESL integrates technologies like smart meters via PAYS and AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) to enable noupfront-cost rollouts.
Platforms like EESLMart offer certified efficient products (e.g., BLDC fans, induction cooktops) to uberize energy efficiency for households and businesses. Future plans include EPC projects for solar lighting, super-efficient chillers.
Can you share how EESL is expanding its energy efficiency mandate into green mobility and decentralized renewable solutions, and what milestones are expected in the next 2–3 year?
EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) is broadening its core energy efficiency focus by integrating green mobility through EV deployment and charging networks, while advancing decentralized renewables via rooftop solar and microfinancing for small-scale projects. EESL, via its subsidiary CESL, leads e-mobility efforts like aggregating demand for 14,028 electric buses in nine cities under the PM E-Drive Scheme and launching the “EV-as-a-Service” program for 5,000 e-cars in government departments over two years. It has installed 456 public EV charging stations (358 operational) with partners like municipalities and discoms, plus recent solar-EV projects in Andhra Pradesh for buses, two-wheelers, and infrastructure. CESL is all set to lead India’s hydrogen mobility (specially buses) and e-trucks transition because of its mandate, proven execution, and ability to scale innovation. Hydrogen buses are a flagship opportunity under India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission. By creating anchor demand, CESL enables hydrogen producers and refuelling infrastructure providers to scale. Every deployment cut fuel emissions while catalysing manufacturing, green finance, and global partnerships. EESL promotes rooftop solar on government buildings to bypass land issues, partners with discoms for viability, and introduces microfinancing for investor appeal in smaller projects. Initiatives like UrjaVEER support sustainability, with new MoUs (e.g., Shell Foundation in January 2026) targeting renewables. Over the next 2–3 years, EESL aims to fully deploy the 5,000 e-cars via EVaaS, scale 14,028 e-buses, and expand charging networks amid policy advocacy for standards and financing. Decentralized solar will accelerate via microfinancing and partnerships for broader renewable integration.
How does EESL measure and track the environmental and economic impact of its programmes, such as carbon reduction & cost-savings for consumers and utilities?
EESL, India’s leading energy efficiency company, employs standardized protocols to quantify environmental and economic impacts from its programs like UJALA, SLNP, and e-mobility initiatives. They use real-time dashboards, measurement and verification (M&V) frameworks, and cumulative performance tracking for transparency. EESL measures carbon reduction primarily through avoided CO2 emissions calculated from energy savings in kWh, using established emission factors (e.g., grid-specific GHG coefficients). For instance, their EV deployments have mitigated over 5,600 tonnes of CO2 by tracking green kilometers traveled and fuel displacement, while broader programs have cumulatively reduced 36.5-46 million tonnes of GHG emissions via energy-efficient appliances and buildings. They deploy Environmental Management Frameworks and Systems Assessments (ESSA) to assess impacts like air pollution (PM reduction) across project phases, with public dashboards for real-time monitoring of programs like Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP). Cost savings for consumers and utilities are tracked via energy bill reductions, fuel savings, and bulk procurement efficiencies. Programs have delivered billions in savings—e.g., 47 billion kWh annually, equating to INR 1,359 lakh from EVs alone—verified through pre/post-installation audits and M&V protocols. Real-time Dashboards tracks progress on SMNP, e-mobility, and solar via integrated platforms launched by government officials.
With the rollout of the Smart Meter National Programme underway, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee in achieving nationwide smart meter penetration, and how is EESL addressing interoperability, data security and consumer engagement?
India’s Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP), led by EESL, aims for widespread adoption to modernize power distribution, but faces hurdles in scaling to nationwide penetration. Key challenges include technical interoperability, data security risks, and low consumer buy-in, while opportunities lie in efficiency gains and revenue boosts for discoms. Interoperability issues arise from varying communication protocols across meters and systems, complicating integration with utility networks. Data security concerns involve protecting real-time consumption data transmitted via GPRS, amid risks of breaches in AMI setups. Consumer resistance stems from unfamiliarity, privacy fears, and installation disruptions, slowing rollout pace. Smart meters enable 95% billing efficiency and 15-20% revenue uplift per consumer through real-time monitoring and prepaid options. They support smart grids for peak demand management and 24×7 power goals, aligning with India’s energy transition. For interoperability, EESL leverages standardized AMI solutions and partnerships, though specifics emphasize bulk procurement for compatibility. Data security integrates web-based monitoring with GPRS, focusing on secure transmission without detailed public protocols. Consumer engagement uses apps for usage insights and operational innovations like SMO software, boosting satisfaction via grassroots outreach.
What initiatives is EESL taking to involve the private sector, MSMEs and local communities in energy efficiency adoption and capacity building across India?
EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) actively partners with the private sector, MSMEs, and local communities to scale energy efficiency across India through targeted programs. These efforts focus on market transformation, capacity building, and inclusive deployment models. EESL collaborates with private ESCOs (Energy Service Companies) to expand initiatives like the Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP). Through the GEFUNIDO project, EESL serves as the main executing partner with the Ministry of MSME to promote energy efficiency in clusters like Surat Textiles, Vapi Chemicals, and Morbi Ceramics. This includes creating revolving funds for replication, barrier removal, and financial assistance via SIDBI for MSME units adopting clean technologies.
EESL is also implementing ADEETIE (Assistance in Deploying Energy Efficient Technologies in Industries & Establishments) and the DEEP (Decarbonizing Enterprises for Enhanced Performance) programme for MSMEs, aimed at accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, enhancing competitiveness, and enabling structured technical and financial support for industrial units.
The NECP distributes induction cooktops to community centers like anganwadis, building awareness and adoption in regions such as Ladakh, Tripura and Andhra Pradesh. EESL follows all Government of India guidelines to ensure inclusivity and parity in its procurement processes across projects, with due adherence to MSME procurement norms to promote equitable participation and strengthen domestic enterprises.
