Nichia, the world's largest LED/Laser Diode manufacturer and inventor of the high-brightness blue and white LEDs, is pleased to announce the full-scale launch of its “Mercury-Free Project,” an initiative to replace mercury lamps used within Nichia with LED technology.
This project is based on the concept of “sustainable manufacturing” and aims to replace all mercury lamps used on Nichia's production lines with LEDs by 2030. To achieve this goal, Nichia will install devices using LEDs and accelerate the development of technologies necessary to achieve this goal.
Background
In recent years, due to concerns about health hazards and environmental pollution, it has been decided that the manufacture and import/export of fluorescent lamps for general lighting will be prohibited by 2027. UV mercury lamps are currently considered to have no alternative technology and are still permitted for manufacturing and importing/exporting. However, technology continues to evolve, UV mercury lamps are expected to become subject to similar regulations in the future, raising concerns about long-term supply.
Nichia has been working towards a mercury-free society by developing alternative light sources such as LEDs and laser diodes using proprietary technologies. The installation of LED lighting within Nichia was completed early, and since around 2020, Nichia has gradually been transitioning to UV LEDs on production lines that previously used UV mercury lamps. Nevertheless, even for Nichia, processes requiring high output, high illuminance, or multiple wavelengths have not been easy to convert to LED.
Nichia currently operates UV mercury lamps with a total annual power consumption of approximately 714 kW1, and Nichia believes that while promoting these initiatives Nichia must also actively pursue LED conversion within its own processes.
Initiative
As a pioneering effort in this initiative, Nichia has replaced some of the UV mercury lamps used in its LED manufacturing process, where LED conversion had not previously been feasible, with UV LED light sources. In November 2025, Nichia began actual operations on certain production lines. Along with improving UV LED output, the use of advanced optical technology has enabled the high irradiance that was previously a challenge, making light source replacement possible. In addition to being mercury-free, this change has achieved a 35% reduction in CO2 emissions per light source. This also contributes to reducing maintenance work and the frequency of light source replacement, as well as minimizing waste containing mercury.
Future Plans
Recent technological innovations have made Nichia's UV LEDs a practical alternative to UV mercury lamps. Moving forward, Nichia will strive to replace light sources in all applications that currently use mercury lamps, including lithography and curing processes, and is committed to realizing a mercury-free and carbon neutral society.esses, and is committed to realizing a mercury-free and carbon neutral society.
TrendForce 2025 Deep UV LED Market Trend and Product Analysis
Release: 31 March, 30 September 2025
Language: Traditional Chinese / English
Format: PDF / EXCEL
Page: 50-60 / Semi-Annual
If you would like to know more details , please contact:
Global Contact: |
ShenZhen: |
|
|
Grace Li E-mail : Graceli@trendforce.com Tel : +886-2-8978-6488 ext.916 |
Perry Wang E-mail : Perrywang@trendforce.cn Tel : +86-755-82838931 ext.6800 |
