Accelerating the Transition towards Solid-state Lighting: Challenges for the Public Sector to Deploy Solid-state Lighting

Abstract: The market uptake of solid-state lighting (SSL) is slow, even though it has many advantages and could deliver a variety of benefits to the society. The public sector is a large actor in the lighting market and could play an important role in accelerating SSL market penetration. Nevertheless, it faces many challenges to adopt SSL. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to provide a better understanding of these challenges and explore potential strategies to overcome them. Sweden is selectd as a focus country as it is a leading nation in adopting SSL. Overall, the public sector in Sweden faces several challenges to adopt SSL. The challenges and its underlying reasons are presented as below: (i) low confidence in SSL due to early technological shortcomings; (ii) risk averison due to uncertainties of product performance and benefits of SSL; (iii) conservative perspective on lighting due to limited awareness of SSL and its benefits; (iv) conservative perspective in prioritizing SSL health and well-being benefits due to limited attention; (v) difficulties in achieving inter-operation ability in innovative lighting solutions (SSL is part of the solution); (vi) high initial cost for outdoor and replacement lighting. To accelerate the transition towards SSL, following actions could be taken: (i) product performance testing standards improvement; (ii) minimum quality requirements scheme setting and market surveillance enhancement; (iii) demonstration projects with high replication potential; (iv) improve awareness and acceptance of SSL and its benefits among different actors; (v) develop standard and norms for lighting’s effect on human health and well-being; (vi) innovative public procurement to facilitate commercialization of innovative lighting solutions; (vii) strenthen SSL (and innovative lighting solution) value chain; (viii) privatepublic partnerships (PPP) to facilitate collaboration; (ix) product-servicing system as a new business model to facilitate solution-oriented approach; (x) increase financial support.