The Climate Group has released details on SSL street light projects in Haldia, Thane, Burdwan, and Cuttack, India.

With support from the British High Commission ,The Climate Group has undertaken four LED street-light projects in the India cities of Haldia, Thane, Burdwan, and Cuttack – working with local authorities with the goal of significant energy savings.

In India, The Climate Group has worked with policy makers and urban local bodies (ULBs) to install LED street lights and develop a plan that would support broader deployment of the technology. The work has encompassed the states of West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Orissa.

In the West Bengal city of Haldia, the Haldia Development Authority has already installed 1020 LED fixtures with the help of The Climate Group. The result is a 70,000 kWh monthly reduction in energy usage that equates to a savings of INR 500,000 (about $9200). The project cost INR 40 million (about $734,350) and Haldia hopes to recoup its investment in six years.

In Thane, The Climate Group worked with the Thane Municipal Corporation, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, and the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency to install 310 LED street lights. The project cost INR 8 million (about $147,000) and is delivering a 47% reduction in energy usage.

In Burdwan, a project with the Burdwan Development Authority is still in the planning stages. The tender process is underway to acquire 354 LED street lights. Likewise a project in Cuttack is in the early stages. The Climate Group has identified 1285 street lights for replacement. The organization projects that Cuttack will be able to save INR 3 million (about $55,000) in energy cost and an additional INR 1.3 million (about $24,000) in maintenance cost annually.

The Climate Group is working to establish a financing mechanism that will enable additional large-scale projects in the region, because many of the ULBs lack the resources required for the up-front acquisition. The organization is progressing with private stakeholders that will finance such projects and recover the investment using an ESCO (Energy Service Company).