UV-C LED Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

UV-C LED Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The global UV-C LED market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 29.65% over the forecast period. UV-C LEDs produce UV photons through the electroluminescence of a semiconductor crystal. These semiconductor crystals are typically made of AlGaN compounds grown on sapphire or AlN substrates. These solid-state devices contain no mercury and do not rely on other substances that are subject to environmental restrictions. As a result, they may provide a regulatory-proof alternative to traditional mercury-containing UV lamps.

• During the forecast period, the incorporation of UV-C LED into consumer goods and home appliances is anticipated to present a significant opportunity for the growth of the UV-C LED market. Improvements in output power and reliability and the recent unit cost price reduction for UV-C LEDs are additional factors significantly fueling the market growth.
• The technology of UV-C LEDs is gradually becoming better. The commercialization of water purification and disinfection has resulted in a sizeable market for the products. This is one of the factors driving UV-C LED demand globally. UV-C LEDs provide a focused wavelength for selective and targeted measurements.
• Moreover, UV-C LEDs offer surface and air disinfection in addition to water. In the commercial environment, the use of UV-C LED air purifiers for HAVC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) is rising. UV-C LEDs are finding new services in a wide range of industries, including residential, commercial, healthcare, transportation, life sciences, defense, and emergency response.
• The thermal management of UV-C LEDs is a major problem because the technology is still in its infancy. LEDs are extremely heat-sensitive, just like any other electronic component. UV-C LEDs only convert about 5% of the input power into light, which is a particularly low external quantum efficiency (EQE) for LEDs. Heat is created by converting the remaining 95% of the power.
• The COVID-19 outbreak had affected the expansion of the global UV-C LED market. It sparked a meteoric rise in interest in germicidal ultraviolet (UV) technology. SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens can be rendered inactive on surfaces, in the air, and in water by UV-C band radiation (100-280 nm) produced by conventional or LED sources. Around the world, numerous universities and laboratories are creating UV-C LED-based products to stop the spread of infections. As a result, COVID-19 boosted the market's growth.

• UV-C LEDs provide a safe, efficient method of treating water without the use of risky chemicals that contaminate rivers, oceans, and other bodies of water. UVC-LEDs are used to efficiently purify water in applications such as water reclamation, wastewater treatment, drinking water, industrial and commercial process water, pools and spas, aquaculture, and life sciences.
• Moreover, UV-C LEDs can be added to on-demand POU water purification systems to safeguard households against common pathogenic causes of waterborne illnesses. UV-C LEDs are used in these systems to protect against microbial contaminants, which include parasites, viruses, and bacteria like e. coli, pseudomonas, and legionella.
• There are two types of water disinfection, namely single-pass type and water storage type. A single-pass type irradiates ultraviolet to disinfect running water, such as a household water purification system. A water storage type irradiates and disinfects water inside a water storage tank, such as a humidifier.
• Drinking water is sanitized with UV-C LEDs at various stages of the treatment process, from the source to consumption. With the new technology, LEDs can be positioned at different points to ensure decontamination. In a UV-C model, it can take a few seconds for the water to become clean. It initially functions by disinfecting the water by exposing a reservoir to several powerful LEDs. They release potent UV-C photons between 200 nm and 280 nm, which travel through the water and prevent aquatic bacteria from being able to procreate.

• Geographically, the UV-C LEDs market in Asia-Pacific is expected to hold the most prominent market share during the forecast period because the main UV-C LED suppliers are in South Korea and Japan. Moreover, the region is also experiencing a rise in the demand for UV-C LEDs for scientific research. It is anticipated that several South Korean LED companies are going to launch new series of UV-C LED products contributing to expanding the revenue of South Korean suppliers.
• Increasing cases of water-borne diseases, primarily in emerging countries across Asia, are poised to augment demand as UV radiation holds a strong germicidal ability to disinfect water with protozoans, bacteria, and viruses. The market growth is stimulated by the increasing adoption of advanced technologies to treat industrial liquid waste and wastewater.
• Leading companies are offering high-performance solutions for large-volume applications like industrial water treatment and municipal drinking water. In addition, factors such as government policies, rapid industrialization, and a strong focus on efficient water and wastewater treatment are poised to expedite the growth of the market.
• The growth of the market is also favored by the increasing adoption of UV-C LED-based equipment in the healthcare industry. These devices can be effectively designed and customized for patient wards, operating rooms, and other areas for efficient disinfection and mitigating the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
• The water and wastewater treatment segment is witnessing growth owing to increased acceptance of both municipal as well as household drinking water treatment systems across Asian countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India. The water treatment segment, which includes municipal, commercial, and residential applications, dominates the UV disinfection equipment market.

The UV-C LED market is fragmented and consists of major players. In terms of market share, no company has absolute control over the market, and everyone has their fair share. Major players include NKFG Corporation, Nitride Semiconductor Co. Ltd, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, Lumex Inc. (ITW Inc.), and Crystal IS Inc. (Asahi Kasei Group).

• October 2022: Asahi Kasei, the parent company of Crystal IS Inc., demonstrated how the UV-C LED technology could be applied to achieve higher disinfection efficiency in water treatment than conventional mercury lamp systems. Crystal IS and Asahi Kasei's advancements in UV-C LED (light-emitting) technology contribute majorly to society's sustainability and are essential steps toward actualizing a mercury-free world.
• September 2022: AMS-OSRAM complemented its high-power UV-C LED portfolio for purification applications. Osram's OSLON UV 6060 offers powerful 100 milliwatts out of a single die source at 265 nanometers. The emission wavelength provides the highest germicidal effectiveness. The OSLON UV 6060 from AMS-OSRAM meets the needs of industrial applications delivering sustainable UV-C treatment solutions for a clean and purified environment.

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