1. Let there be CFL
An overview of the regulatory and
management issues necessary for a
successful CFL programme
Centre for Science and Environment
Study published in Down To Earth (January 15-
31, 2009)

2. CFLs: Our first leapfrog?
We have tracked many cases where people, not
connected to reliable energy sources have paid to move
to battery-CFL or even PV-CFL combination
Already substantial penetration of CFL in India --
reportedly 165 million units sold in 2007 (against 343
million units in the US)
The poor of India are leapfrogging from no
light/kerosene directly to the efficient -- CFL
They are providing the market -- this transition, which
will help the entire world is driven by them
But are the market/regulators up to the task?

3. Why CFLs?
• If 400 million bulbs are replaced by CFLs, the resultant
saving would be to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore
• It would mean power saving of 31 billion units per annum
• The money saved from these could additionally fund a
3500 Mw power plant in the county
• CFLs can work on 6-12 volt batteries,helping villages off
the grid get illumination
This transition is being promoted and facilitated by states
and schemes

4. Engineering the change
Price an important factor -- down but still not competitive
with cheap incandescent bulbs -- Rs 75-150 against Rs 15
Large commercial consumers save enough to make
transition, but bulk of consumers are small -- less than 50
units per month, paying Rs 100 per month as power tariff
So, government/agency intervention necessary:
Schemes of states/agencies promoting CFL; seeking carbon
credits to make up the short fall or not

5. Engineering..
BEE scheme -- Bachat Lamp Yojana -- distribute at Rs 10-
15, recover the deficit from CDM credits --reach 400
million households. In 2009, 650,000 CFL will be given in
just two cities of Visakhapatnam and Yamunanagar.
Osram is the company
Himachal Pradesh -- Atal Bijli Bachat Yogna -- county’s
most ambitious CFL programme. Reaching 1.6 million
households with an order of 6.4 million CFLs, costing Rs
65 crore (had problems with cartel of big four who tried to
fix price; delayed because of power factor decision). HP
Socomec and Phoenix will supply

6. Engineering
Sirsa -- a district that has gone CFL -- selling at half price as
printed on the packet (Rs 67.50 for 11 watts; Rs 75 for 15
w; Rs 100 20 w) -- used dealer margins to reduce cost of
CFL (50% higher than factory price)
Delhi -- Finolex scheme -- sold directly at half price
Nashik -- Between November 2005 to June 2006; Prayas
evaluation found sale of 380,000 against target of
300,000; substantial saving but quality issues
Mumbai -- Reliance energy -- pilot scheme
Now all on hold for central scheme?

7. Market: size and players
• Indian market is moving towards 200 million pieces
• Growing at nearly 40 per cent per year
• The market is complex with more than a dozen branded
players and many more unbranded players
• Cross selling between manufacturers and brands are
common (Philips or Phoenix is the biggest?)
• A huge chunk of the CFLs of different qualities are still
imported from China (brought down market price to Rs
40-50 per piece) -- new anti-dumping regulations?

8. Concerns
1. Number of CFLs sold in the market without BIS
certification
2. PF of .85 made mandatory from January 1, 2009
but industry opposition continues
3. Given the market structure, what other systems
and standards are needed to ensure quality and
life?

9. Mercury: the next problem
1. Currently there is no regulation to limit the
amount of mercury going inside CFLs. Again
Industry opposition
2. What: 1 mg CFL available; In India 3-13 mg of
mercury; pellets or amalgams?
3. Need to set standards -- get the best in the world
and even better to drive technology in big
markets
4. No labelling standards of CFLs regarding the
mercury toxicity on CFLs, in spite of BIS
committee advice

10. Mercury: disposal?
1. RH Khwaja task force recomended a tax on CFLs to
finance a disposal mechanism
2. It noted that major manufacturers had facilities to recycle
CFLs in house that could be used for disposal
3. CPCB issued guidelines for disposal of CFL as part of its
consent conditions -- no manufacturer has applied as yet
Without adequate conditions for disposal of CFL should
schemes continue?

11. Way Forward
• Ensure strict standards for Mercury dosing of CFLs
• Use of amalgams or pellets instead of liquid to ensure the correct
dose of mercury inside CFL
• Strict standards to ensure mercury inside a CFL does not exceed 5
mg. The aim is to reduce to about 1 or 2 mg
• Strict standards to ensure that toxicity of mercury be labelled on every
CFL package along with the quantity of mercury present in that CFL
•Labels must also advise consumers on what to do in case the CFL
breaks
• Strict enforcement of .85 PF so that transmission and distribution
losses are minimised so that all the benefits of the CFL can be availed
• Set parameters to ensure that poor quality Chinese CFLs are heavily
taxed at point of entry so that they loose the edge of lower price
•Only long life CFLs with 10,000 hours must be allowed to be sold in the
market

12. Way Forward
• Proper recycling and disposal of CFLs is a must -- at
manufacturers site or common? Or both with differing
costs?
• Existing recycling facilities at manufacturing sites must be
made available so that CFLs can be recycled even before
the government mechanism is put in place
• Cost of disposal must be part of the cost of the CFL
• A system must involve buy back of burned out CFLs