Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD
Welcome to the September issue!
I should be sad at the end of summer, but truth be told, I’m just happy that this never-ending heatwave is abating.
As you read this, we’re just a month away from one of the year’s premier events, The Battery Show at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan. This year marks the 15th anniversary of this leading exhibition for energy storage in the heart of the “Motor City.”
As per usual, Power Systems Design will have a presence at this quintessential showcase for one of the leading drivers of the Internet of Things, electric vehicles, and renewable energy in general.
Meanwhile, September brings us a look at “Lighting & Illumination”, which, much like batteries (and for many of the same reasons), is on the upswing. Federal and state mandates for more efficient lighting technologies – including and especially, solid state lighting – has many expecting big things from the vertical formerly dominated by the Edison bulb.
If we take a top-down view, it’ll probably surprise no one that China is the king of the lighting market. In terms of LEDs, the Asia-Pacific region – China, specifically – owns the largest market share.
According to one source, the Asia Pacific LED lighting market was worth $39.32 billion in 2024, with it expected to reach $114.71 billion by 2034 – with a CAGR of 11.30% from 2025 to 2034, the worldwide market should be valued at $260.71 billion by the mid-2030s.
That being said, China’s dominance could be a double-edged sword, as the People’s Republic could simultaneously be leading the LED market and sowing the seeds of its destruction (or at least, consumer mistrust).
What’s one of the most malignant phenomena people associate with China? Grand View Research put it succinctly when it said “The proliferation of low-quality and counterfeit LED products undermines market reliability and consumer trust, as these products often fail to meet safety and efficiency standards.”
While the U.S. is making inroads, China dominates not only the LED market but LED production, with the communist giant producing nearly ¾ of the world’s LED supply.
For my own part, I’ve certainly experienced the consumer angst of LED bulbs that aren’t up to snuff – LED lighting that’s supposed to thrive for a decade+ and barely last half that is an ongoing problem for both consumers and on an industrial scale.
The future of lighting looks bright (no pun intended), though poor-quality parts are eroding consumer confidence. Hopefully, the combination of a reinvigorated American manufacturing base and continued vigilance by consumers and the industry will keep lighting moving in the right direction.
Enjoy the September issue!
Best Regards,
Jason Lomberg
North American Editor, PSD
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