Gov't to Install LED Streetlights Around Taiwan: President Ma

Taipei, May 17, 2010 (CENS)--Following the installation of LED (light emitting diode) traffic lights throughout Taiwan by the end of this year, the government will start to substitute LED street lights for existing 1.3 million traditional models from next year, as a prelude of the adoption of LED light at all government offices, announced President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday (May 16).

The programs are meant to expand the domestic green market, thereby facilitating the effort of the local green industry to catch up with industrially developed nations, such as Japan and Germany. The LED street light program alone will bring on business opportunity topping NT$10 billion for domestic LED light makers, such as Epistar corporation, Everlight Electronics, LiteOn Technology, and Delta Electronics, but may aggravate the shortage in the supply of LED chips.

Ma made the announcement during a visit to Delta Electronics, when its chairman Bruce C.H. Cheng reported to him the company's plan to invest NT$20 billion in the green sector, including electric car, e-paper, solar energy, and LED, in response to the government's promotion of the green industry.

Ma pointed to the vigorous development of Taiwan's LED industry, whose output ranks first place in terms of volume worldwide and second place in value, with its global market share reaching 25% last year, up from 16% in 2008, the second highest worldwide, trailing on Japan.

The local LED industry racks up the best performance among the seven green industries being pushed by the government. Taiwan's solar-cell industry ranks third place worldwide, with some maker having muscled into the list of the top 10. In addition, the wind-power generating equipment industry is also emerging, as evidenced by the successful development of an indigenous 2MW wind-power generator recently, which makes Taiwan the eighth country capable of producing large-scale wind-power generating equipment worldwide.