There is an increasing demand for LED light bulbs in Taiwan in 2012. Industry sources has estimated that the LED light bulb demand is expected to exceed 1,500,000 units in Taiwan for 2012 and the penetration rate into the local light bulb market is expected to exceed 30% in 2014, with an additional increase to 50% in 2015. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) expects that by the end of 2012, there will be 46 brands of LED light bulbs and 154 models in Taiwan. However, some manufacturers’ labels can differ by 20 percent from their actual output, pointed out by the ITRI.

Currently, the ITRI has been working on designing energy-saving labels which will adopt some of the highest standards in the industry, to respond recent requests from the Bureau of Energy. The new labels are likely to create some waves in the market,however, reports indicate that it is a necessary step in correctly reflecting product values.

The ITRI indicated that after gathering suggestions from the industry, proposals will be sent to appropriate committees in the Bureau of Energy and it expect the details to be announced in January 2013. Additionally the ITRI also plans to announce the LED light bulb brands that passed the standards at end of first-quarter to second-quarter 2013.

Industry sources have reported that there are currently two initial proposals for LED light bulb standards. The first being cool white LED light bulbs with a color rendering index of 80 and above. According to ITRI the efficiency of these light bulbs would need to reach 80lm/W and warm white LED light bulbs with a color rendering index of 80 and above would need to have an efficiency of 85lm/W. The estimated percentage of products that will pass this test is about 10%, said ITRI. The second suggestion is to increase the efficiency standard of the first suggestion by 5lm/W, in which a passing rate of only 3% is expected.

A team at ITRI has been surveying the industry and among 29 firms, 22 firms choose the first standard suggestion. Firms such as Delta, Everlight, and Formosa Epitaxy chose the second standard suggestion. The firms that chose the second suggestion indicated that there are many LED firms in China and the higher the standard, the better protection for Taiwan-based firms.