Osram Team Succeeds in Constructing Most Efficient LED Lamp in the World

An Osram research team has succeeded in constructing the most efficient LED lamp in the world. The lamp in tubular form consumes only half the power of currently common fluorescent and LED tubes, and also achieves significantly superior colour rendering.

The record-breaking light source was developed by the central research department together with the optical semiconductor and lamp business units.

“This research success represents yet another innovation push with LEDs and is based in particular upon our strategic position as integrated lighting experts,” said Peter Laier, Osram’s CTO and executive board member responsible for the company’s general illumination business.

The lamp to be presented by Osram at Light+Building 2014 achieves an almost unprecedented efficiency level of 215 lumens per watt, and generates as much light (lumens) as currently common fluorescent or LED tubes with only half the power consumption (watts). In contrast to research demonstrations until now, the lamp with a length of 1.20 meters has an identical length to traditional fluorescent lamps. The peak efficiency is achieved both with warm and cool white light.

The record is based on a combination of high-efficiency red LED chips and green-whitish Osram LEDs containing a self-developed phosphor that is approaching production maturity. The lamp is operated with a specifically developed control unit featuring efficiency of 95%. The demonstrator emits 3,900 lumens of warm white light (3000K) and achieves a very good color rendering index (CRI 90).

The new forms of technology used will be integrated step-by-step into Osram product development, and the company is expecting series products with these forms of technology from 2015.