Cree announces the new XLamp XQ-E and XP-E High Efficiency (HE) Photo Red LEDs, the industry’s highest performing LEDs optimized for horticulture. The new LEDs deliver up to 21 percent higher output than the previous generations of XQ-E and XP-E Photo Red LEDs, enabling hrticulture lighting manufacturers to deliver higher performance products, reduce luminaire size and lower system cost.

“The XQ-E family provides a unique combination of ultra-compact package, high output and wide range of horticulture-optimized colors,” said Michael Naish, director, Rusalox. “Using XQ-E LEDs with our unique AlumOxide technology, our customers can create luminaires that use half the power of conventional HPS luminaires, as well as being smaller and weighing less than incumbent technologies. The higher performing XQ-E High Efficiency Photo Red LED will enable customers to quickly reduce the power consumption of their current design even further for faster payback periods.”

Cree's XP-E High Efficiency (HE) Photo Red LEDs. (All photos courtesy of Cree)

The XQ-E High Efficiency Photo Red LED sets a new performance benchmark by delivering Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) levels up to 5.39 μmol/sec at 85 C from a package footprint of just 1.6 x 1.6 mm. The new XQ-E’s ratio of output to size is more than double that of the closest competitor. The XP-E High Efficiency Photo Red LED delivers up to 6.08 μmol/sec PPF output at 85 C and is the first LED to break the 1 W radiant flux barrier at 85 C.

“The new XQ-E and XP-E High Efficiency Photo Red LEDs bring Cree’s latest high-power performance breakthroughs to horticulture lighting, with twice the PPF density and higher output than all other available LEDs,” said Dave Emerson, vice president and general manager for Cree LEDs. “Our technology enables customers to create high performance, long-life luminaires that drive the adoption of LEDs in this emerging application. With these additions, Cree continues to offer the industry’s best portfolio of LEDs optimized for horticulture, including White, Royal Blue and Far Red color options.”

Cree's XQ-E High Efficiency (HE) Photo Red LEDs.

Both XQ and XP LEDs for horticulture are built on Cree’s ceramic high-power technology that can deliver R90 lifetimes over 100,000 hours, even at the extreme temperature of 105 C. In addition, horticulture lighting manufacturers can immediately take advantage of the existing ecosystem of drivers and optics proven to work with the XQ and XP platforms to accelerate their time to market.

Product samples of the new XQ-E and XP-E High Efficiency Photo Red LEDs are available now and production quantities are available with standard lead times. For more information on Cree’s entire range of LEDs optimized for horticulture lighting, please visit www.cree.com/xlamp/horticulture.