China's Lighting Industry Achieved A Significant Technological Breakthrough in Its Green, Low-carbon, And Intelligent Transformation

In January 2026, China's lighting industry achieved a significant technological breakthrough in its green, low-carbon, and intelligent transformation. Recently, an innovative technology named the "LED DC Centralized Drive Dual-Control Lighting System" passed a scientific and technological achievement appraisal organized by the China Illuminating Engineering Society, recognized by an expert panel as reaching internationally leading levels. This technology not only provides a new solution for large-scale energy-saving renovations in urban road lighting but also offers new design insights for the future of portable professional lighting equipment such as work lights and headlamps.

The system successfully addresses a key pain point in current mainstream LED lighting solutions. Traditional LED street lights commonly use a "single-lamp control" mode, where each luminaire requires an independent driver power supply to convert AC to DC electricity. This not only causes additional energy loss but also affects the overall lifespan and reliability of the fixtures. The newly developed "DC Centralized Drive Dual-Control" system shifts the power supply mode to "centralized control." It uses a single circuit cable to simultaneously provide stable DC power for various devices on multifunctional light poles and achieve precise road lighting control. This model of centralized power supply and efficient management holds significant reference value for industrial task lighting scenarios that require complex power supply and intelligent control.

This technological breakthrough is driving the lighting industry's transition from single product innovation to a full-chain low-carbon solution encompassing "materials-products-systems". In practical application, this technology already supports more cutting-edge smart city applications. For instance, in Futian District, Shenzhen, "5G DC Smart Street Light + Drone" poles based on this system have commenced trial operation. Drones can take off from dedicated nests on the poles for automated patrols and return for charging after completing missions. All device power is supplied by modifying existing street light lines, eliminating the need to excavate roads and lay new cables. This demonstrates the potential for highly integrated and intelligent future urban infrastructure.

This technological advancement is underpinned by solid policy support. In recent years, national policy documents such as the "14th Five-Year Plan for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Comprehensive Work Plan" and the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Development of the Energy Electronics Industry" have explicitly called for accelerating the energy-saving renovation of lighting systems and promoting the application of efficient, intelligent LED technology. Under the "Dual Carbon" strategic goals, lighting, which accounts for about 20% of total societal electricity consumption, has seen energy saving and carbon reduction become the core theme of industry development. Concurrently, the global lighting market continues to grow, with the application of solar lighting in developing and underdeveloped regions becoming a significant trend, while the human-centric lighting concept is also steering the market towards focusing on health and well-being.

In summary, the certification of this "LED DC Centralized Drive Dual-Control Lighting System" marks a leading advancement for China in system-level energy-saving lighting technology. It indicates that future lighting, whether for large-scale urban roads or small-scale industrial workspaces, will accelerate its evolution towards higher energy efficiency, more intelligent integration, and lower carbon footprint throughout the entire lifecycle.