Challenges associated with the phase-out of low-voltage halogen lamps

The phasing out of the ubiquitous 50 W 12 V MR16 dichroic mirror reflector halogen lamp in Australia poses some significant challenges. Lighting Council Australia estimates there are some 300 million downlights in Australia using these MR16 lamps - hence there is a lot at stake in getting the right replacement for these products.

The Australian Government, through the Ministerial Council on Energy, placed a ban effective 14 April 2012 on the importation of 50 W halogen lamps. The ban is part of an ongoing process, through the imposition of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), to rid the market of inefficient lighting products.

What is loosely referred to as a low-voltage lighting product is also sometimes mistakenly thought of as being ‘low energy consumption’. However, the 12 V 50 W lamp is certainly not an energy-efficient light source - especially when compared to alternative technologies available today. Being an incandescent technology it is hot while illuminated and has been linked to roof cavity insulation fires. Being hot, these lamps also increase the load on air-conditioning systems, adding to their poor reputation for energy efficiency.

Replacement options

There are a number of replacement options for the 50 W halogen lamp. They include:

• using the same MR-16 lamp shape except in 35 W
• using a MR-16 retrofit LED - the same general lamp shape except with LED technology
• replacing the complete luminaire with one of three other available technologies: mains voltage halogen 50 W GU10 base reflector lamp; compact fluorescent lamp (CFL); an LED luminaire

The most likely contender to replace the 50 W halogen lamp - at least in the medium to longer term - is LED technology. This is because of limitations with the other lamp types. 35 W halogen lamps and GU10 base reflector lamps are a form of incandescent technology and as such are likely to be phased out because of their inherent inefficiency. CFLs, while highly efficient, lack the aesthetic appeal to be a mainstream contender and longer term are also likely to be replaced by LED technology.

The LED challenge

There are enormous strides being made with LED technology. Governments around the world - and particularly in Asia - are encouraging solid state lighting research and production, in part because of its potential for saving energy, but also because of the anticipated enormous world market. As a consequence, there are literally thousands of start-up LED manufacturers vying for the new business alongside the Asian electronic giants and the traditional European and North American lamp manufacturers.

However, solid state lighting is a complex technology. LEDs are far more technically challenging than the traditional incandescent and fluorescent technologies. Getting everything right in the manufacturing process - from the LED chip to the driver to the heat sink to the light fitting itself - is critical to the performance of the LED. Compounding these difficulties is the immaturity of technical standards and, as noted above, the proliferation of manufacturers and suppliers with little or no experience in lighting.

It should therefore come as not too much of a surprise that there is a lot of underperforming LED product in the marketplace. This is a major issue for the lighting industry. Notwithstanding the increasing availability of high-quality LEDs, there is widespread concern that poor-performing products will sour the market and hinder the long-term take-up of this new energy-efficient but technologically complex light source.

A related concern is the exaggerated claims being made by some suppliers about their LED products. Regrettably, some companies are patently untruthful in their marketing material, particularly in their claims about the light output and colour characteristics of their products.

Government’s response

Regrettably, the Australian Government has done virtually nothing to date to address the issue of poor performing LED products. The main outcome of a 2010 workshop convened by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency was an urgent call for regulation. While the department has made tentative steps towards a regulatory regime, nothing is in place yet.

Lighting industry’s response

As a consequence of the immaturity of LED standards, the widespread exaggerated marketing claims and the absence of any form of government regulation, Australia’s lighting industry has introduced a voluntary certification program for LEDs called the Solid State Lighting Scheme.

A minimum set of critical parameters is reported by participating suppliers to accurately reflect the performance of their products. Scheme participants provide test reports or other evidence verifying their claims. Lighting Council Australia registers qualifying product on a database on its website (www.lightingcouncil.com.au) and authorises use of a label indicating conformance to the parameters.

The critical parameters appearing on the SSL Quality Scheme Label are:

• luminaire efficacy (energy efficiency of the entire fitting)
• light output of the luminaire
• measured input power
• test voltage
• correlated colour temperature
• colour rendering index