The Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM initiative by the Government of Lebanon (3 million lamps programme)

Between September and October 2007, UNDP’s then-LCEC project (LCEC Project) initiated with EDZ (Electricité de Zahlé), the replacement of 1,000 incandescent lamps (ICLs) by Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in the Niha village. 32 houses were studied and it was found that the most efficient use of CFLs is in the mostly occupied rooms of the household. The results of this study had an impact on the distribution methods for the subsequent CFL initiatives.

In parallel, a standards and testing program was initiated by LCEC Project for the CFLs (among other household appliances). In this context, in collaboration with the Lebanese Standards Institute (LIBNOR), standards for CFLs were adopted as voluntary in July 2008 and as mandatory in September 2010. The Industrial Research Institute (IRI) later installed a testing facility for CFLs according to these newly adopted Lebanese standards.

Furthermore, a UNDP project entitled “Renewable Energy and Energy Saving Applications in the Affected Regions of Lebanon, via the Installation of: Solar Collectors, Lamps of Low Consumption, Testing and Measurements Facility of Solar Collectors with Simultaneous Transfer of Know-How” funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Hellenic Aid Programme was approved in February 2007 and it included the replacement by LCEC Project of 90,000 CFLs in 31 villages in South Lebanon. Lamp replacement within this project kicked off in October 2010 and it served as a training and demonstration platform for the Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM initiative by the Government of Lebanon (GoL).

The Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM initiative by the GoL was financed by the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) – Tripoli and Zahrani Oil Installations and managed by the LCEC. It as kicked off also in October 2010. It consisted of the replacement of 3 million ICLs by CFL in approximately 1 million Lebanese households, in collaboration with Electricité du Liban (EDL). Lamp replacement was delegated to the electricity bill collectors who were supervised by LCEC’s dedicated distribution team for the programme. CFLs were distributed door-to-door by the electricity bill collectors to residential electricity subscribers. Each household received CFLs free of charge in exchange of working ICLs in operation at the household up to a maximum of 3 CFLs. The programme resulted in CO2 emission reduction by saving electricity from the Lebanese power grid. ICLs replaced were stored at various warehouses managed by the MEW. MEW eventually disposed of collected and destroyed ICLs. All evidences and records of collected ICLs were documented ensuring that these less efficient lighting devices were not used elsewhere. CFLs used within the programme were with lumen output equal to or greater than that of the replaced ICLs.

The Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM initiative by the Government of Lebanon (GoL) was also divided into 5 small scale projects successfully registered in December 2012 under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol:

  1. “The Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM Project – Mount Lebanon”. It consists of the replacement of up to 675,000 working ICLs by CFLs in approximately 320,000 households of Mount Lebanon. More specifically in the electricity utility sector repartitions of Bikfaya, Baabdat, Jbeil, Kartaba, Achkout, Bhamdoun, Jounieh, Aley, Beit Eddine and Wadi El Zineh. (https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/DNV-CUK1348219106.67/view)
  2.  “The Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM Project – North and Bekaa”. It consists of the replacement of up to 715,000 working ICLs by CFLs in approximately 330,000 households of North Lebanon and Bekaa. More specifically in the electricity utility sector repartitions of Ras Baalbak, Hermel, Zahlé, Baalbak, Ryak, Chtoura, Tripoli, Bcharreh, Koura, Halba, Koleiat, Kobeyat, Berkayel, Sir El Donnieh, Ehden and Zghorta, Amioun, Batroun, Jeb Jannine, and Rachaya. (https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/DNV-CUK1348225784.62/view)
  3. “The Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM Project – in and around Beirut Southern Suburb”. It consists of the replacement of up to 475,000 working ICLs by CFLs in approximately 220,000 households of Southern Beirut. More specifically in the electricity utility sector repartition of Chiah. (https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/DNV-CUK1348204184.38/view)
  4. “The Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM Project – South Lebanon”. It consists of the replacement of up to 485,000 working ICLs by CFLs in approximately 230,000 households of South Lebanon. More specifically in the electricity utility sector repartitions of Sour, Bint Jbeil, Nakoura, Joya, Jezzine, Marjeyoun, Nabatieh, Saida, Zahrani, Machghara, and Hasbaya. (https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/DNV-CUK1346937959.88/view)
  5. “The Lebanese CFL Replacement CDM Project – in and around Beirut Central, Northern and Eastern Suburb” (BNES) It consists of the replacement of up to 675,000 working ICLs by CFLs in approximately 315,000 households in and around Beirut Central, Northern and Eastern Suburbs. More specifically in the electricity utility sector repartitions of Beirut and Antelias. (https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/DNV-CUK1348138933.43/view)