Well, the Strategies in Light conference did the trick for me. I still have things coming up in my mind and go "...ah yeah, ... she said that... that's really important." So here is a more structured summary of what I saw and heard:
After tens of millions of dollars and many lawsuits, more and more x-licensing deals are struck in the LED industry. This collaboration between device manufacturers makes products more marketable. It takes away the stigma of maybe using protected technology and exposing customers and yourself to lawsuits. The industry focus and venture capital money for that matter are moving downstream. Systems aspects supersede individual component characteristics.
Nevertheless, the LED market remains very fragmented with hundreds of fixture manufacturers and the big players slowly introducing new products.
The market outlook is tainted by the current economic environment with a few bright spots around LCD TVs and general lighting applications. The expectation for the industry is revolutionary. Mr. Haitz, a long-term participant at the show, made a comment that LED lighting will change a whole industry just like transistors and integrated circuits did when they replaced tubes in the 60s.
Another piece of supporting evidence for such a dramatic change ahead was the Clinton Climate Initiative which has two of its nine programs focusing on LED lighting.
With all the increases in lumens per LED, lumens per Watt and lumens per $, the industry is ready to play in the next (big) league. Despite LED light bulbs currently thermally bound between 5 W and 7 W, end-users need light sources that are consistent, predictable, uniform, stable, reliable and replaceable. Looking at the complete system as the industry does, delivers exactly those qualities. A couple of examples:
- In refrigerated warehouses, LEDs really shine, especially at low temperatures where traditional light sources struggle. LED-based light fixtures are much more directive than traditional high-bay lights. Directing light toward the alleys where forklifts drive, rather than illuminating the boxes on the top shelf, saves more than 50% of the energy. Fixture design is key for conducting the heat to where it can be dissipated and directing the light only to where it is needed and not everywhere.
- The power ratings for all the lights in a car add up to 400W, which results in a hefty amount of copper to transport the needed current to those lights. LEDs dramatically reduce those power ratings and the amount of copper needed, reducing the car weight. LEDs also need a lower inrush surge current than traditional light bulbs, further reducing the size of the wires.
- Cool White Meat - This particular aspect really stuck with me. Cool white meat is a special color temperature used in light fixtures for meat counters. Now butchers present their product in the best light possible. This lighting enhances the look of the food, making it much more appetizing.
- Similar to the “Cool White Meat” trick, you can also pick a color temperature similar to that of the morning sun and your circadian systems tell you it’s morning, helping to wake you up.
Reacting to the highly fragmented market, standardization is setting in rapidly. UL, ENERGY STAR, Celma and others are working on creating a level playing field. In the near future you won't have to do the math yourself to understand why you need a 100 lm/W LED to make a 25 lm/W fixture. California took the first step last year with its Title 24 legislation. This regulation states that system wattage, including power supply, transformers and fans, determines whether a light fixture is high efficacy or not.
In summary a very exciting market to be part of. Combining the improvements in LED and other semiconductor technologies with new approaches at the system level will take us into very interesting areas. We are looking at applications that will change how we use light like wall washing with changing colors, LED task lights that help us be more alert etc.
Chris Link
Energy Business Development Manager
