LED market share in Thailand to reach 70% by 2020

LED lighting technology has improved so much that the initial worry of low power factor and that brands incompatibility issues 'would' have been taken cared of by now.

The fact that many countries have adopted the use of LED lightings for illuminating public places as well as privately owned properties, means that this type of lighting has good acceptance from the masses. This should be good enough reason for LED-base lighting  prices to have gone down drastically sooner than later.

Malaysian companies took part at the LED Expo Thailand in Bangkok -Photo: Facebook/LED Expo Thailand.

Malaysia's MATRADE said that the LED lighting penetration rate in the Thailand market has reached an estimated 10 % to 15%, whereas in Malaysia very little can be said about adoption of this energy efficient lighting.

I am now wondering if Malaysia's LED streetlights by 2014 pledge was a genuine goal or just a statement of intent. Has any action been taken on the plan 'to roll out the budget on the installation of LED lights nationwide?' 

As reported by Bernama here, it seems that we have to venture abroad to market our LED products.

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Malaysian firms rake in RM37.1mil sales at Bangkok LED Expo

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian light-emitting diode (LED) products and solutions raked in sales of RM37.1 million from Thai buyers at the LED Expo Thailand 2015.

A Specialised Marketing Mission (SMM) spearheaded by MATRADE was in Bangkok for three days from May 20 in conjunction with the expo.

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Bangkok Trade Commissioner Niqman Rafaee Mohd Sahar said the LED lighting penetration rate in the Thailand market has reached an estimated 10 to 15 percent.

"The LED market share for Thailand is expected to reach 70 per cent by 2020," he said in a statement issued here today.

Thirteen Malaysian companies participated in the SMM, while seven other Malaysian firms took part as individual exhibitors at the expo, where 208 business meetings arranged for Malaysian companies with Thai government officials, traders, distributors, manufacturers and top retailers.

- Source: Bernama | June 6, 2015

Ryannie Neils Yong is State-level 2015 Kaamatan UNDUK NGADAU

This is the second consecutive year that I was unable to make myself available for shooting the colourful, beautiful closing ceremony of the month-long Kaamatan festival. Not that I don't support it nor that I've lost my passion for photography. I was away from home during both occasions.

The last time I 'squeezed' myself in to shoot was in 2013 when Immaculate Lojuki was crowned Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan. Great experience.

What I can share with you today is the result published by the local dailies immediately after the event.

The Borneo Post, June 1, 2015

Ryannie Neils Yong (seated middle in the pic) representing Tanjung Aru - donning the Tambunan traditional costumes  - was crowned winner of the State-level 2015 Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan. She took home RM6,000 in cash, a trophy and a crown, RM25,000 worth of scholarship from ATI, air tickets to London and Melbourne, 4D/3N Bali trip and a designer handbag.

Harian Express, June 1, 2015 (Bahasa Malaysia section of the Daily Express)

Daily Express, June 1, 2015

Full list of winners:-

Top 7 at the Unduk Ngadau (UN) final:

1. Ryannie Neils Yong  (Tanjung Aru) - Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2015
2. Shirley Anthony Danggok (Tambunan) - 1st runner-up
3. Evrina Masalan (Tenom) - 2nd runner-up
4. Valencia Ann Primus (Kota Kinabalu) - 4th place
5. Natasha Aprillia Benggon (Inanam) - 5th place
6. Sherrylyn Jane Rannytho (Putatan) - 6th place
7. Kimberly Vung (Likas) - 7th place


Other titles:

Miss Popular Altel - Sherrylyn Jane Rannytho (Putatan)
Tati Topiodo (Miss Natural Beauty) - Kerinah Mah (Pitas)
Tati Tosuau (Miss Friendly) - Natasha Apprillia Jalius S Benggon (Inanam)
Miss Conservation WWF - Olga Willnelia Nasib (Paitan)


The Green Mechanics two cents:

It is good that contestants took note of the Organising Committee's emphasis on choosing this year's Unduk Ngadau "that would not only be the best embodiment of Huminodun but should also have an in-depth grasp of the origins of their ethnicity and heritage", in their efforts to win the vote of the judges.

I like the winner's back-to-basic approach in her costume selection.


See you on May 31 next year, hopefully.

Solar loans spur Solar PV boom in Japan

Japan is one of the world's largest residential PV markets in terms of cumulative installations. They   achieved with just two PV financing options: cash and loans. They have not yet offered leasing or power purchase agreements, which are common in the U.S.


Credit: Nango Credit Union

One of the largest residential solar PV installers in Japan said that about 40% of their customers buy PV systems with cash and the remaining 60% use solar loans.

The average purchase cost of a system of 3-4 kWp is approximately ¥1.5 million or US$12,600 (approximately RM44,700) and for those who don’t have enough cash, the company offers solar loans through three consumer credit financing companies. All three of them offer 10-year or 15-year unsecured loans with low, fixed interest rates.

Most of the PV module makers in Japan also offer solar loans for consumers who purchase their solar systems via their designated installers. This provides a convenient, one-stop shop for consumers — from system purchase, financing, design, installation, and warranty.

PV installers make patnership arrangement with national consumer credit companies to offer solar loan program with low interest rates to customers.


Low interest rate for solar loans in Japan

Banks currently offer solar loans with interest rates of approximately 2%, requiring no office visit, no down payment, and no collateral. One of the reasons why solar customers get easy and low-interest-rate loans is because of the net feed-in tariff (FIT) policy currently in place in Japan.

Japanese residential PV owners can sell any excess generated electricity at a premium rate - around ¥38/kWh (approximately RM1.136/kWh) - for a period of 10 years to their regional utilities. With the net FIT, homeowners can generate income, which can offset monthly solar loan payments, either in part or in full.

Thanks to the generous FIT, PV homeowners will end up having less monthly out-of-pocket expenses than pre-PV installations, even with the solar loan.

Shizuoka prefecture represents No. 4 in the nation in terms of cumulatively installed capacity of residential PV systems. Shizuoka prefecture is blessed with great solar insolation. For example, Omaezaki city has the highest solar radiation in Japan, with 2,497 sun-available hours a year.


Cumulative residential PV installed capacity. 

A case in point -- Shizuoka Bank, one of the largest local banks, provides solar loans combined with performance guarantees and disaster insurance for local homeowners. The maximum loan amount the bank offers is ¥10 million (approximately US$83,500) for up to 15 years and the bank requires no collateral from borrowers.

Currently, the banks offers a variable interest rate of 2.20% exclusively for solar customers via on-line applications.


Performance guarantee

These are few example of good support from the financial institutions and other utilities in Japan:-

1. Under its performance guarantees, Shizuoka Bank will reimburse up to ¥50,000 per year for three years in the even solar insolation falls below what it was originally forecasted. If a home with solar loan gets damaged by earthquakes or typhoons, the bank will provide up to ¥300,000 of solarium for damages.

2. Nango Credit Union, small regional credit union in Nichian city in Miyazaki prefecture, offers Eco-Solar Loans to residents in Nichian city and two other neighboring cities. The credit union currently offers 15-year solar loans with a 1.50% fixed interest rate.

3. Osaka Gas Company, a regional gas utility in the Kinki area, offers 15-year solar loan with a fixed rate of 2.35%, with no down payment, under the name “With Gas & Solar Loan” for its residential gas customers.


The Green Mechanics:
When Malaysia phases out the generous FiT in a couple of year's time (if not sooner), this may be a good example of how to keep the solar PV industry momentum going.


-- Further reading and reference: RE Magazine