News

SSL Annex Launches New Website

Today, the IEA 4E SSL Annex has published a new website that reflects its new five-year programme of research and cooperation. The new and completely redesigned website offers users a clear and concise overview of the new programme, with activities classified into four topical areas: product performance, testing and standards, policy and enforcement, and health and environment. It can be found http://ssl.iea-4e.org.

The IEA 4E SSL Annex is committed to providing clear communication with people who are interested in cutting-edge issues relating to solid-state lighting. The launch of our new website is a step in that direction, reflecting the new programme of research and cooperation amongst the SSL Annex member governments.

“We are very excited about our new programme of work and our new website attempts to put across all of our activities in a organised and clear way,” said Dr. Peter Bennich, chairman of the SSL Annex’s Management Committee and representative of the Swedish Energy Agency, one of the Annex’s member countries. “As policy makers, we understand the importance of good communications with all parties and we designed our new website to achieve that objective.”

The website clusters our research into four topical areas to make it easier for stakeholders to access and understand.

Product Performance – there are two main important areas that relate to product performance: (1) Product Performance Tiers and (2) Energy Implications of New Product Features. Product Performance Tiers are voluntary product performance tiers for common SSL applications in support of various government policy objectives (e.g., public procurement, bulk purchase, etc.). They cover many different product types, including non-directional household lamps, downlights, linear fluorescent LED lamps and street lights. The work on Energy Implications of New Product Features will focus on trying to understand the energy implications of new LED products, which offer a number of opportunities for user control as well as internal product quality control.

Testing and Standards – the SSL Annex is building on its completed work comparing 110 LED testing laboratories around the world and is launching a new interlaboratory comparison focusing on a new global interlaboratory comparison proficiency testing scheme for goniophotometer-based lamp and luminaire testing. The SSL Annex will also look at the application of new CIE S 025/E:2015 test method for the purpose of government-led testing and enforcement activities. Finally, this work will also include research and synthesize credible findings from lifetime studies and test methods on product lifetime in support of policy-making.

Policy and Enforcement – The SSL Annex is conducting research to support member governments and policy makers in two key areas: (1) market lessons learned and (2) best practice approaches for market monitoring, verification and enforcement. Market lessons learned will involve a review and reporting on lessons learned by SSL Annex member governments around the introduction of SSL products to their markets, including how their markets developed and evolved, and important pitfalls to avoid. The work on market monitoring, verification and enforcement (MVE) will seek to assist governments with identifying approaches and solutions that will enable more cost-effective market MVE activities, applying best practice programmes on MVE activities from around the globe. Research into both of these areas will be compiled and analysed, culminating in a report offering policy guidance and information on successful approaches followed by SSL Annex member countries.

Health and Environment – the SSL Annex is working to help policy makers track and understand the latest science and research on how LED lighting impacts human health and the environment. Starting in 2011, the SSL Annex launched a study to review all of the major health-related literature associated with LED lighting. In 2014, the SSL Annex published a comprehensive review of the current literature on health-related impacts of energy-efficient LED systems in our homes, buildings and outdoor areas. Also starting in 2011, a research project was launched to compile all the available literature associated with the life-cycle assessment impacts of LED systems compared to conventional lighting systems. The purpose of this work was to provide answers to questions like ‘what are the environmental impacts of LED products over their whole life cycle?’ and ‘what are the strongest contributors to the environmental impacts of LED products?’

About the IEA 4E SSL Annex

Launched in July 2010, the IEA 4E SSL Annex is a joint initiative of nine countries working together to address common challenges with SSL technologies. The Annex member countries understand there are significant advantages in engaging in an international collaboration and joint activities relating to SSL performance and quality. Sponsoring governments of the SSL Annex include Australia, Denmark, France, Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. China also participates as an expert member of the SSL Annex.

The Annex member countries believe that there are significant advantages in engaging in an international collaboration in order to develop a consensus on harmonised approaches to SSL performance and quality. Sponsoring governments of the SSL Annex include Australia, Denmark, France, Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. China also participates as an expert member of the SSL Annex. The work of the SSL Annex spans a wide range of initiatives which can be found on the Annex’s website (http://ssl.iea-4e.org/), including guidance for policy makers, quality and performance tiers and support for laboratory accreditation.

Press Contacts:

SSL Annex QuestionsSSL Annex Chair

Nils Borg

Operating Agent

Borg & Co.

Stockholm, Sweden

T: +46 70 585 31 74

E: nils@borgco.se

Dr. Peter Bennich

Chairman, SSL Annex Management Committee

Swedish Energy Agency

Stockholm, Sweden

T: +46 16 544 22 78

E: peter.bennich@energimyndigheten.se