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High Quality Electronic Ballasts for Developing countries: Prospects in Thailand and Asia
Peter du PontPeter Rumsey International Institute for Energy Conservation, Bangkok, Thailand Abstract Despite their potential savings, electronic ballasts have yet to gain a toehold in the lighting markets of most developing countries. In Asia, electronic ballasts are widely produced for export to Europe, Japan, and North America. Meanwhile, a handful of Asian manufacturers are selling a small amount of electronic ballast's for the domestic markets, which remain negligible. In Singapore, poor performance of the first electronic ballasts has discouraged several neighbouring countries from attempting to promote their use. Nonetheless, the fact is that there are now several manufacturers in Singapore producing high-quality electronic ballasts for domestic sale and for export. The major barrier to the introduction of electronic ballasts in Asia is economic - imported, twin-tube electronic ballasts cost US$ 40 and up, and foreign manufacturers are not willing to establish factories without some guarantee of a demand for their product. Consumers are not willing to invest in a technology that is expensive and has a reputation for unreliable performance relative to the traditional magnetic technology. In this paper we discuss in detail the development of the market for fluorescent ballasts in Thailand. The potential for electricity savings due to electronic ballasts in Thailand are huge. We also provide some basic information on fluorescent ballast production and the potential market for electronic ballasts in several other Asian countries: Singapore, Australia, Korea, and India.
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