Xcel Energy has started to roll out a large scale LED streetlight upgrade in Minnesota to cut back energy consumption, reported Startribune.

These days, LEDs are increasingly being used as replacements for traditional lamps and other electronic appliances. This makes sense, since lighting in general is responsible for up to 20% of the world's electricity consumption. As a result, it has become even more crucial to develop advanced LED materials and technology that produce more light while maintaining efficiency and reliability. In many ways, Taiwan is a leader in the LED industry, since it consistently places at the top of global rankings for LED component output value, while continuing to introduce leading-edge technological advancements.

In the green energy sector, solar, wind, and lithium batteries prices all plummeted, which has disrupted markets and transformed existing market orders, leading to new developments.

LG Electronics announced it will be launching a quantum dot TV, along with its lineup of OLED TVs by 2017, reported The Korean Herald.

September 1st 2016, sees Stage 3 of the Energy Related Products Regulation 1194/2012 take effect.

Royal Philips announced the appointment of Sophie Bechu as Chief of Operations and Executive Vice President. Sophie Bechu, who joins Philips as of September 1, 2016 from International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), becomes a member of Philips’ Executive Committee and reports directly to Philips CEO Frans van Houten. Sophie Bechu succeeds Pasquale Abruzzese, who left Philips in May of this year for personal reasons.

This week, GE Lighting made an important announcement to its employees regarding its changing market strategy in Asia and Latin America, and the company’s redirecting focus to its more profitable regional markets and products.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) announced that ANSI Accredited Standards Committee C78 reaffirmed ANSI C78.1431American National Standard for Electric Lamps—Slide Projector Lamps, Condensing, Dichroic, Two-inch (51 mm), Integral Reflector, Rim Reference Tungsten-Halogen Lamps with GY 5.3 Bases. This standard consolidates the lamps commonly used for slide projectors into a single standard. The lamps contained in this standard are not to be considered as interchangeable—they will all fit the common socket used for these lamps. 

Philips Lighting, a global leader in lighting, has today released findings that reveal the lack of awareness about the European Union’s ban on GU10 halogen spot lights, effective from September 1, 2016. The research found that three quarters (75%) of consumers do not know about the forthcoming ban, despite the fact that two in five (40%) are currently using halogen spot lights at home. The EU legislation was driven by the need for increased energy efficiency in order to reduce electricity consumption and cut CO2 emissions. Focus now turns to LEDs, such as the Philips LED spot classic WarmGlow, as a high-quality, alternative that looks, feels and behaves like a halogen, but is up to 90% more energy-efficient.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) announced that ANSI Accredited Standards Committee C78 stabilized ANSI C78.60360 American National Standard for Electric Lamps—Standard Method of Measurement of Lamp Cap Temperature Rise. This standard describes the standard method of measurement of lamp cap temperature rise which is used when testing incandescent or discharge lamps for compliance with the limits.

On August 24th, 2016, Global Sales Manager Steve Byun, Lighting Marketing Manager Brandon Lee and R&D engineers from Samsung Electronics (SAMSUNG) visited Shanghai Wellmax Lighting Industry (WELLMAX) located at Pudong New District, Shanghai. They were greeted by the CEO of WELLMAX, Yamin Wang, and WELLMAX R&D engineers.

St. Louis, a city in Missouri, U.S. will be rolling out a US $4 million streetlight upgrade project to make the roads safer at night, reportedFox2Now.

China Electric and Philips Lighting launched a joint International Lighting Design Center in Taipei on Monday, stated Taiwanese LED luminaire manufacturer China Electric.

China Electric, a leading Taiwanese LED luminaire manufacturer and owner of lighting brand TOA, announced it won the bid for three large scale LED streetlight projects in Taiwan this year totaling NT $400 million (US $12.84 million).

Shimla, a city located in Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, will be replacing about 8,000 conventional streetlights with LEDs, reportedThe Times of India.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) announced that ANSI Accredited Standards Committee C81 revised ANSI C81.61-2016 American National Standard for Electric Lamp Bases—Specifications for Bases (Caps) for Electric Lamps. This standard sets forth the specifications for bases (caps) used on electric lamps. This revision includes specifications for the G8 base.

Low power LED lights could raise Canadian snow crab catchability, according to a study presented by PHD candidate Khanh Nguyen at the fourth International Marine Conservation Congress, reported The Fish Site.

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is on Samsung Display’s OLED display waiting list that is running well into 2017, reported Korean media etnews.

Nichia’s patent infringement suit filed against the world’s third largest TV vendor TCL Multimedia (TCL) and subsidiary TTE Technology (TTE) on Aug. 8, 2016, is a significant move to prevent unpatented Chinese LED chips from entering U.S., said LEDinside analysts.

Samsung Display is running low on OLED supply, due to soaring OLED display demands from Chinese smartphone makers, reported The Korea Herald.

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in U.S. announced that, through their partnership in the Five Cities Energy Initiative, Yonkers will replace 20,200 interior lighting fixtures with LED energy efficient tubes in all city operated buildings. The project, partially funded by NYPA, will save Yonkers taxpayers up to $250,000 per year and reduce the City’s carbon footprint by 1,226 tons annually. 

Veeco Instruments announced that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), based in California, has ordered Veeco’s SPECTOR® Ion Beam Sputtering (IBS) System.  The system will be used to deposit optical thin films and to conduct research regarding laser performance in support of the Laboratory’s national security mission.

Japan Display Inc. (JDI), a manufactuerr of small to mid-sized LCD displays issued a statement on Saturday refuting claims made by Nikkeiand other media that it was seeking financial support from INCJ.

GE Lighting has helped monitor athletes performance with LED biosensors at the 2016 Summer Olympics that took place from Aug. 5-21, 2016 in Rio de Janerio and its projects there invovles more than illuminating venues.

U.S. researchers claim to have found a new method to overcome green LED droop issues. GCS Holdings sell to San’an Opto faces similar fate as Lumileds, with U.S. authorities blocking the acquisition transaction over undisclosed concerns. Samsung rumored to be investing huge sums in 3D NAND flash memory and OLED panels.

To cope with saturated smartphones' market and gradually weakening sales, Samsung Electronics is considering to purchase Fiat Chrysler Group's automobile component manufacturer Magneti Marelli to develop new market segments.

A delegation of authorities from Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Road and Transport Authority (RTA) visited Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting to enhance cooperation and become familiar with streetlight projects, reported Trade Arabia.

Kyocera announced that it will acquire all shares in Melles Griot KK — a Japan-based manufacturer specializing in optical components which is currently a subsidiary of U.S.-based IDEX Corporation — in order to further expand its optical components business. Melles Griot KK is expected to become a wholly owned Kyocera Group company effective on Sept. 1, 2016.

More than half of Bolton’s street lamps have now switched over to new LED lighting - and work is on target to finish in 2018. Replacement work continues throughout the borough and almost 15,000 lights in 2,463 streets have been upgraded, since the rollout began in April last year. Approximately 26,000 lights on residential streets and main roads are being replaced with lower carbon LED lanterns.

Goa, a state in India has lifted its ban of using LED fishing lights on boats, and now will permit the use of these lighting equipment on boats in areas beyond 12 nautical miles, which is the boundary of jurisdiction for the state, said Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado.