Which are the major companies in the high power LED market? What are their strategies to strengthen?
The major high power LED market vendors include Cree (US), Nichia (Japan), OSRAM (Germany), Samsung (South Korea), Everlight (Taiwan), Lumileds (Netherlands), Epistar (Taiwan), LG Innotek (South Korea), Broadcom (US), MLS (China), and Seoul Semiconductor (South Korea). The other companies include Luckylight Electronics (China), Plessey Semiconductors (UK), Betlux Electronics (China), Effilux (France), Lite-On Technology (Taiwan), Crescent LED (UK), Vollong Electronics (China), and Stanley Electric (Switzerland).
The high power LED market is expected to grow from USD 4.5 billion in 2019 to USD 5.6 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period. The long life & continuous usage, small size, less power consumption & voltage, and increasing high brightness application are the major factors fueling the growth of the market.
The use of high power LEDs in smart cities will be a significant growth opportunity for high power LED market players. The increasing awareness regarding the use of high power LEDs in smart lighting systems used in smart cities will provide a boost to the high power LED market growth. The use of high power LEDs in the lighting systems across the smart cities will boost the growth of the high power LED market. The increasing demand for architectural lighting coincides with the rapid development of cities, installed with efficient lighting solutions, to achieve innovative and energy-efficient lighting solutions.
The high power LED packages consists of a flip chip, mesa, and vertical packages. The flip chip packages can be operated at a higher current, are free of wire-bonding, and are offered in smaller packages. These characteristics have led to the higher adoption of these LEDs than the traditional horizontal and vertical LEDs. In flip chip packaging technology, solder balls of LED die—clinging to the electrodes of the die—are placed facing the substrate and electrically coupled to the electrodes. Being a wireless bonding technology, flip chip LEDs ensure enhanced durability, heat dissipation, and superior light performance, among others. Flip chip packaged LEDs are used in automotive, signage, medical, and industrial applications.
Automotive is expected to be the fastest-growing application in the high power LED market in the coming years. High power LEDs are becoming popular in exterior automotive lighting due to their characteristics and efficiency. The superior clarity of the white light offered by the use of high power LEDs in headlights improves the reaction time of the driver. The adaptive front-lighting systems (AFS), which are enabled by LED matrixes, produces fast, complex light-pattern changes that improve the visibility for drivers in poor light conditions. Also for the night driving, the AFS automatically adjusts to the beam from an incoming car and prevents the blinding of the oncoming driver by harsh lighting.
The adoption of the latest devices and technologies is increasing in APAC due to the presence of several electronics and automotive manufacturing companies in the region. China, South Korea, and Japan are the leading countries in the high power LED market in this region. Automotive and general lighting application in the countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan have shown considerable growth, with China being the dominant country in the production and consumption of high power LEDs; thus, these countries are expected to witness robust growth in the high power LED market.
The major opportunities in the high power LED market include the increased use of high power LED in smart lighting systems and energy-efficient systems. Street lighting accounts for a large share of the total energy consumption across lighting applications. It is a critical concern for public authorities in developing countries owing to its strategic importance for socioeconomic stability. Inefficient lighting wastes significant financial resources each year, and poor lighting creates unsafe conditions in any country. Energy-efficient technologies and designs can reduce street lighting costs drastically (often by 25–60%). These savings can eliminate or reduce the burden on energy generation plants, and this saves capital for alternative energy solutions for populations in remote areas. These cost savings can also enable municipalities to invest in the expansion of street lighting to the areas devoid of street lightings. Awareness regarding the use of high power LEDs will help energy-efficiency as well as help the market to grow.