With new price points and higher efficiency, LEDs seem set for rapid growth in market share. Not every LED stock will benefit equally, however. Pure-play LED companies like Cree and Revolution Lighting Technologies, Inc. are likely to gain more than broader lighting companies like Philips and Acuity Brands. Navigant Research predicts that revenue from LED lamp sales will rise to $8.7 billion by 2021 but while LED lamp sales to commercial buildings will grow by 23% per year for the next 8 years, the longer life of LEDs will cause industry revenue from lamp sales to decline slightly over the coming decade.
Solar Market Soared in 2012
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has released a study showing that photovoltaic (PV) installations grew 76% in 2012 over 2011 to total 3,313 megawatts (MW) with an estimated market value of $11.5 billion. With another record-breaking year, solar is the fastest growing energy source in the United States, powering homes, businesses and utility grids across the nation. The report is based on a study by GSM Research and SEIA titled “U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year in Review 2012,” an analysis of solar power markets in the United States.
Osram Opto Announces New Bright White LEDs for the Interior of Vehicles
Osram Opto Semiconductors has launched the next-generation of its Topled and Mini Topled LEDs for interior-vehicular applications. The components enable high-brightness, long-life solid-state lighting (SSL) for the interior of buses, autos, trains, and airplanes. Osram retailed the same packaging technology that it had previously used in the Topled families. But the new LEDs stretch lifetime to 50,000 hours and deliver more light output allowing for a better user experience in mass transit applications.
DOE Releases Report on LED Environmental Testing
The U.S. DOE has released a new study addressing the potential environmental impacts from landfill disposal of three light-source technologies used in residential homes: incandescent, CFL, and LED. All three lamp types contained some hazardous elements which, while generally below Federal landfill limits, in some instances exceeded the more restrictive California limits. The report, LED Environmental Testing, covers the third part of a larger DOE study to assess the life-cycle environmental and resource impacts of LED lighting products in relation to the two other types of lighting. Altogether, the three-part study found that LEDs currently have the lowest environmental impact, and that the rapid pace of LED technology improvements will widen that gap considerably over the next five years. The full report is available online at:
LED Lighting Market Forecasted to Experience Steady Growth in 2013
In the U.S. LED bulbs account for less than 1 percent of the 5.6 billion bulbs used in residential homes. LED companies have been trending upwards in recent weeks due to potential growth within the lighting market, which has been dominated by the standard incandescent bulb for decades. Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the Semiconductors Industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Register at www.fivestarequities.com and get exclusive access to numerous stock reports and industry newsletters at no charge.