The widespread adoption of LED lighting was initially driven by government policies, focusing early on applications like evacuation indicator lights, streetlights, and landscape lighting. As LED technology matured and prices decreased, LEDs began to be used in indoor functional lighting. Currently, LED lighting is gradually replacing traditional incandescent bulbs and is becoming the primary lighting source, with major applications in residential and commercial lighting.
With the growing global awareness of energy conservation and environmental protection, LED lighting, known for its low energy consumption, long lifespan, and high brightness, has become one of the green, energy-efficient industries strongly promoted by governments and related enterprises. Especially in the 21st century, with accelerated industrialization and urbanization, energy and environmental pollution issues have become more severe, leading to rapid development of LEDs due to their eco-friendly characteristics.
According to the International Energy Agency, global carbon emissions reached 36.3 billion tons in 2021, a record high. Against this backdrop, achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality has become an international consensus. For instance, China aims to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 through measures like carbon reduction. In 2020, global electricity consumption for lighting was about 2,900 TWH, accounting for approximately 16.5% of total global electricity generation. Energy savings in the lighting industry will play a crucial role in achieving carbon reduction goals. Compared to traditional light sources, LEDs offer high energy efficiency, safety, stability, and intelligent control, making them a key driver in reducing carbon emissions in the lighting sector. Consequently, there is an international push to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting.
Under the support of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the "863" Program, the development of semiconductor lighting was first proposed in June 2003. With continuous advancements in LED chip technology and processes, the luminous efficiency, technical performance, and product quality of Chinese LED lighting products have significantly improved. Additionally, the increasing number of related enterprises and investments in the industry, along with upgrades in manufacturing technology and economies of scale, have further boosted production efficiency. Leveraging these advantages, China has now undertaken key aspects of the LED lighting industry chain development and manufacturing, becoming a major player in the global LED lighting industry.