China promotes benefits of solid-state lighting

As the solid-state lighting industry evolves, it is becoming clear that China will be both an enormous consumer for lighting products and an engine for growth and innovation in solid-state lighting.

Progress is already under way. The Chinese government has launched a National Solid-State Lighting (SSL) Program, targeting huge energy savings from a large-scale conversion to LED lighting, as well as reduced environmental pollution.

Ling Wu, the director of the National SSL Program Office, told the audience at the recent Strategies in Light conference that China could save 100 billion kW/h annually by 2015, if LEDs reach efficacies of 150 lm/W and achieve a 40% share of China's incandescent lighting market. Such savings would be more than the output of the massive Three Gorges hydroelectric project, she said.

China's National SSL Program kicked off in June 2004 when the Ministry of Science and Technology pulled together the activities of several different regional development groups. The program has already received RMB 140 m ($17 m) from central government, and 15 research institutions and more than 50 enterprises are involved. Major investment in SSL is expected when China's 11th five-year plan is unveiled in July 2005.

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