"High-efficiency Lighting" promotion project concludes; new wave of energy-saving lamps arrives

The high-efficiency lighting product promotion project, organized by the Economic Construction Department of the Ministry of Finance and the Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, has finally been concluded. After intense competition, it has now entered the public announcement stage for shortlisted winning bidders. This bidding for the "High-efficiency Lighting Product Promotion Project" was divided into 9 packages, with a total of 150 million units, including self-ballasted fluorescent lamps for general lighting, tri-phosphor double-ended fluorescent lamps, and high-pressure sodium lamps, setting new records for both quantity and variety of promotion. More than 30 energy-saving lamp companies won bids, and these companies will be qualified to participate in activities promoting high-efficiency lighting products with financial subsidies.

Expansion of product variety and increase in number of enterprises

It is reported that the bidding work started in July 2009. Based on factors such as the relevant quality certifications obtained by each enterprise, technological advancement, and brand influence, over 1100 lighting enterprises nationwide were screened. After comprehensive assessment, a total of 106 enterprises were included in the national government procurement catalog, becoming suppliers for national government procurement. In March 2010, the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission publicly invited bids from the aforementioned enterprises for the "National High-efficiency Lighting Product Subsidy Promotion Project". The expert panel scored and evaluated the enterprises' quality and technical capabilities, market promotion and service capabilities, and overall competitiveness, with the best prevailing and the worst eliminated.

This tender is divided into 9 packages, namely self-ballasted fluorescent lamps for general lighting (5–8W), self-ballasted fluorescent lamps for general lighting (9–14W), self-ballasted fluorescent lamps for general lighting (18–24W), self-ballasted fluorescent lamps for general lighting (25–60W), triphosphor double-capped fluorescent lamps (mains frequency: T8), triphosphor double-capped fluorescent lamps (high-frequency T5 or high-frequency T8), high-pressure sodium lamps (150W), high-pressure sodium lamps (250W), and high-pressure sodium lamps (400W). Compared with last year, a new item of self-ballasted fluorescent lamps for general lighting (25–60W) has been added.

A broader driving effect

Among the winning bidders, Zhejiang Sunshine maintained its previous advantage, winning 7 packages with the highest overall score and achieving a "three-peat" in the tender of the high-efficiency lighting product promotion project. The winning projects will generate sound social and economic benefits, promote the establishment and improvement of the company's domestic sales network, and further strengthen the market influence of the Sunshine brand.

Compared with companies that are well-funded and enjoy higher brand recognition, the "newcomers" appearing among this round of winners account for almost one-third. The participation of these companies will broaden the driving effect of the energy-saving lamp promotion on the lighting industry. Jiangxi Suopuxin Industry, a first-time winning company, stated that this tender will not only enable the company to quickly advance into the ranks of first-class domestic lighting enterprises, but will also bring the company an additional revenue of about 80 million yuan, while creating around 320 new jobs. It is believed that such enterprises will enter a stage of rapid development.

Industry insiders believe that the increase in promotion volume and the expansion of scale not only drive the development of the winning enterprises, but also generate a driving effect on the entire industry that should not be underestimated. Because high-efficiency lighting products are faced with problems such as high initial investment, non-standardized markets, and low public awareness, relying solely on forces within the industry to promote them is too weak. In recent years, the government has continuously stepped up its promotion efforts, which will undoubtedly produce a "leveraging a thousand pounds with four ounces" effect in the industry, helping companies in the sector embark as soon as possible on the path of energy conservation, emission reduction, and sound development.

Environmental Theme Highlights Energy-Saving Effects Once Again

It is reported that, compared with the previous two rounds, there are further requirements in terms of environmental protection. This tender clearly specifies the mercury content, requiring that bid products must use solid mercury or mercury capsules, with a content of no more than 5 mg as the minimum requirement, and the highest-level requirement being below 1.5 mg. Low mercury is encouraged, and for bulbs of 5W to 24W, those below 3.5 mg will receive different degrees of bonus points. In addition, this tender explicitly includes in the bid documents for the first time the requirements regarding the number of energy-saving lamps promoted by the enterprise, the proportion of waste lamp recycling, the presence of recycling equipment, and whether the enterprise has passed the cleaner production review. These indicators have become the key to whether an enterprise can win the bid for high-efficiency lighting products. This shows that, in addition to setting higher requirements for product quality in national-level tender promotions, the government has raised environmental protection awareness and requirements for enterprises to a new level.

Industry insiders say that, in just over two years, China has successfully promoted 210 million energy-saving lamps, achieving remarkable energy-saving and emission-reduction effects, truly realizing "residents save electricity and money to gain tangible benefits, while society saves energy and reduces emissions to expand domestic demand." This year, the country plans to promote 150 million energy-saving lamps, further expanding the promotion effort, demonstrating the government's determination to meet the social demand for high-efficiency lighting products, which will deliver sound economic and social benefits.