Lighting revolution in China: from traditional light to light emitting diodes

"Forbes" according to reports, China rapid economic growth has exceeded its energy supply speed. In order to ease the tension in energy supply, China is undergoing a revolution in lighting, from the invention of Edison's electric light bulb turned to light-emitting diodes (LED).

This revolution is start from small range, such as traffic lights and similar to the New York Times Square on the NASDAQ screen. But industry experts predict that the energy saving light emitting diode will sooner or later replace other lighting methods, including household bulbs and tubes.

From Silicon Valley experts, American elite photoelectric technology company (ELite Optoelectronics) CEO Robert C. Walker said, "China will be the first non vacuum lighting revolution in the country, you will see China first lighting revolution, followed by Asia and other countries and regions, then Europe; the United States the technology will be the last country." Robert C. Walker is a senior adviser to the Chinese government's non vacuum lighting committee.

Chinese government has a very urgent reason by solid-state lighting technology, it can than the traditional way of lighting (incandescent and fluorescent) 50-80% energy saving. In the West it is still an edge technology.

China rapid economic growth has exceeded its energy supply speed. At present, 12% of China's energy is being used for lighting, according to Wu Ling, chairman of the China Federation of crystal lighting in Beijing.

She estimates that if the light emitting diode to occupy 30% Chinese lighting market in the next 10 years, the year will save 58 billion kwh of electricity. She points out that it is almost equivalent to the annual output of the Three Gorges dam. The Three Gorges dam is the world's largest power station, currently under construction, costing $24 billion.

Wu estimated to be announced by the end of October the China plan for the next five years will include improved solid-state lighting R & D in the Chinese University and the National Institute of light on the input mechanism.

California Market Research Analyst Robert V. Steele said, "not only in Beijing, the Chinese are in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games...... they want to dress up the whole country, they see the light emitting diode in the improvement of buildings, bridges, fountains and monuments on the face can play a key role."

Outdoor decorative lighting accounted for almost 1/4 of the market China light emitting diode. In 2004, the market was valued at $1 billion 400 million. In southern China's Fujian Province, 500 million white LEDs are consumed every month. At present, the majority of light-emitting diodes, especially high-end products rely on imports.

Chinese but also to the value chain in the industry to move upstream. Four Chinese companies have started their own LED chips, and there are a number of companies ready to join the ranks.