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EU halogen phase-out postponed by two years to 2018

European Member States have agreed to the European Commission’s proposal to postpone the phase out of inefficient ‘D’-class halogen lamps by two years, to September 2018. The Commission said that the postponement of the phase-out would give more time for the cost of LED lighting technologies to drop.

In advance of the decision, a public review process concluded that September 2016 would be too early for LEDs to fully replace halogen lamps – a date originally agreed in 2009 to tap into the savings potential of LEDS, which use around five times less energy than halogen

The Commission said that the financial savings from the postponement is in line with the Energy Union priority of improving Europe's energy efficiency with the final goal of ensuring secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy.

The phase-out from 2018 does not affect directional halogen lamps, such as popular spotlights, and halogen lamps often used in desk lamps and floodlights. 

According to the Commission, switching from an average halogen lamp to an LED will already save around €115 over the LED’s lifetime of up to 20 years, and pay back costs within a year. The Commission says the switch to energy-efficient lamps in 2018 will bring yearly energy savings equal to the annual electricity consumption of Portugal (48 TWh of electricity).

European news organisation Euractiv reported that the decision is the first time that the EU has rolled back an agreed product efficiency measure, and that the postponement was a result of heavy industry lobbying from halogen manufacturers.

News Item details


Journal title: Energy World

Keywords: LED lighting - Halogen lighting

Countries: EU -

Subjects: Energy policy, Environmental policy

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