Efficiency as the decisive factor
From an already better track record than other technologies, the efficiency
of LEDs has improved further in recent years. Depending on the model, LEDs
available on the residential market have an efficacy of more than 100 lumens
per watt, and since 2010 the average efficiency of LEDs has improved by
6-8 lm/W per year. There are countries where the efficacy of LEDs available
for residential use already ranges from 110 lm/W to 130 lm/W; to meet the
ambitious Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) targets, manufacturers are
already committed to achieving values of 160 lm/W by 2030. To understand
the improvements being made, the effectiveness of compact fluorescent lamps
is around 60 lm/W and that of halogen lamps is below 20 lm/W; incandescent
lamps dissipate most of their energy in heat, which explains why they were the
first to be banned from the EU market (source: IEA).
Colour variation and light colour
A revolutionary feature is that LEDs can produce any colour of light, unlike
conventional light sources. LEDs come in various colours depending on the type
of semiconductor used, which determines the dominant wavelength and therefore
the colour of the light emitted. Moreover, depending on the composition and
wavelength of the dominant colour, the white light emitted by an LED can take
on different tones. If there is a high proportion of blue tones in the spectrum, the
light is perceived as cold white; the higher the proportion of long-wave colours,
the ‘warmer’ the light appears. IEC EN 12464-1 gives a numerical reference
to the different shades of light which are classified according to their ‘colour
temperature’, expressed in degrees Kelvin (K). As a general rule: the higher the
colour temperature, the colder the light. A distinction is made between:
• warm white: temperature below 3,300 Kelvin;
• neutral white: temperature between 3,300 and 5,300 Kelvin;
• daylight white / cool white: temperature above 5,300 Kelvin.
Control advantages
LED luminaires also offer features that alter traditional control and monitoring
processes. In the case of automatic presence-dependent control in office
environments, for example, the switch-off delay of fluorescent tube luminaires
cannot be too short: a value of at least 15-20 minutes avoids too frequent
switching that would damage the tubes. The advent of LED luminaires makes
it possible to shorten the switch-off delay considerably, without any negative
effects on the life of the light sources.
Colour rendering ratio
The colour rendering value (generally referred to as Ra) depends mainly on the
spectral composition of the artificial light and assesses how well the lighting
reproduces natural colours compared to a reference light source. Values of Ra =
100 denote very good colour rendering: modern LED sources are characterised
by very good values.
Light sources sold in the EU at 28
mln pz. / year
Incandescence
Halogen
HID
LFL
CFL
LED
2011
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2012
2016
2020
Source: Lighting Europe
Relative intensity in %
Wavelength in nanometers (nm)
380
20
40
60
80
100
0
580
480
680
730
430
630
530
780
Blue LED
Green LED
Red LED
Sales by source type in the 2010-2030 sustainable development scenario (source: IEA)
Single Lighting Regulation
In December 2019, the EU Regulation 2019/2020 came into force, integrating
into a single text - the Single Lighting Regulation - all the elements of the
Ecodesign legislation concerning lighting products that until then had been
covered by different Regulations (EC 244/2009, EC 245/2009 and EU
1194/2012). The new criteria will come into force on 1 September 2021 and
the previous Regulations will be repealed. The main objective of the Regulation
is simplification to make the legislation easier to apply and to verify by national
authorities. Taking into account the ongoing transition to LED technology, the
aim is to have durable and innovative products in Europe that can be repaired
and replaced by light sources.
Art. 4 looks at the issue of removal of light sources and lighting units separate
power supply by defining characteristics such as:
• replaceable without permanent damage to the container;
• accessibility for verification purposes;
• removability at the end of its useful life.
It is precisely the evolution towards LED technology that has made it necessary
to clarify certain definitions:
• Light source’ is the electrical component that emits light or, for non-
incandescent light sources, is adjusted to emit light (or both). Not to be
considered as light sources are LED chips, LED dies or LED packages; products
containing one or more light sources which can be removed for testing
purposes; parts which emitting light contained in a light source from which it
cannot be removed for verification as a light source;
• Containing product’ includes one or more separate light source(s) or
ballast(s), or both. This is the case, for example, with luminaires which can
be dismantled for the purpose of separate light source verification or with
household appliances containing one light source. However, if a container
product cannot be disassembled to check the light source and the separate
ballast unit, it is considered to be a light source;
• Control gear’ is a device, physically integrated in the light source or not,
which converts the mains power supply into the electrical format required by
the light source. This may include transforming the supply and trigger voltage,
limiting the operating and preheating current, preventing cold start, correcting
the power factor and/or reducing radio interference.
With the entry into force of the Single Light Regulation, other light sources are
being phased out, in particular:
• from 1 September 2021, halogen lamps with an R7s cap with an output of
more than 2,700 lm;
• from 1 September 2023, 18, 36 and 58W fluorescent tubes with G13 lamp
caps and halogen lamps with G9, G4 and GY6.35 caps.
The measure also includes higher efficiency thresholds for LED sources and the
introduction of requirements to limit flickering of light sources.
Lifespan and durability
For LED (and OLED) light sources, the EU Regulation 2019/2020 defines
‘lifetime’ as L70B50, i.e. the number of hours between the start of use and the
time when for 50 % of the light source population the output has gradually
decreased to less than 70 % of the initial luminous flux. From 1 September 2021
the service life must be indicated on the source itself.
Situation and perspectives
The last few years have seen a great evolution in the field of light sources. The
European Directive 2005/32/EC and the subsequent Commission Regulation EC
After more than 100 years on the market, this meant the retirement of
incandescent technology and to a large extent also of halogen technology, a
necessary step for sources that dissipated most of the energy used in heat and
converted only a small part of it into light radiation.
Dimmable LED Luminaires
In order to make dimming possible, LED luminaires must be designed
accordingly. Dimmable LED drivers and LED sources can be identifi ed by the
appropriate symbols.
DIMMERABLE
This decision has resulted in an estimated 32 million tonnes of CO2 emission
reduction for EU countries and energy bill savings of around €11 billion; it has
also been calculated that, by 2020, the reduction in electricity consumption
would be 80 billion KWh, equivalent to the total needs of 23 million European
households, and the annual production of twenty 500 MW power plants. In the
field of technical lighting for large buildings, the transition is also underway;
in its sustainable development scenario, the IEA estimates that by 2030 LED
technology will account for around 80% of the market, with fluorescent sources
accounting for around 20% of the total.
References
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 of 1 October 2019 establishing
ecodesign requirements for light sources and separate ballasts pursuant to
Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and
repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 244/2009, (EC) No 245/2009 and
(EU) No 1194/2012
SMART LIGHTING
SMART LIGHTING
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