Photo Red continues to present opportunities for meaningful development

With the focus on energy efficiency and crop performance, LED component manufacturers are working to deliver incremental improvements that can have a significant impact at fixture level. At GreenTech Amsterdam, Morgan Meadows Davis, Product Manager at Cree LED, outlined the company’s latest development in horticultural lighting: the next generation of its XLamp® XPL S Line Photo Red LED.

Following the launch of the XLamp XPL S Line Photo Red last year, Cree LED is preparing to introduce an updated version later this summer.

“We’re launching our next generation of the XLamp XPL S Line Photo Red, and there’ll be about a three percent improvement from the current generation in wall-plug efficiency,” she says.

While a three percent increase may appear modest, efficiency gains are becoming increasingly valuable as growers and lighting manufacturers seek to reduce energy consumption while maintaining high light output.

Continued progress in photo red technology
According to Morgan, horticultural-specific LEDs still offer opportunities for larger performance improvements than more mature lighting technologies.

“We are constantly trying to improve the performance of our products,” she explains. “For a lot of general lighting products, the efficiency is starting to hit the ceiling where you’re going to get the maximum output. You’re not making the large jumps in performance improvement that you were ten years ago.”

In contrast, photo red and other horticultural wavelengths continue to present opportunities for meaningful development.

“We’re still seeing those step-function gains in efficiency on 660nm and 720nm red products, so we’re continuing to push for higher performance on these LEDs.”

Customer requirements shape development
Rather than developing products in isolation, Cree LED works closely with lighting manufacturers to understand fixture design requirements and performance targets.

“We definitely take feedback from our lighting customers,” she adds. “A lot of them have very specific outputs they need based on power, what PPFD they’re trying to hit, and what efficiency levels they’re trying to achieve.”

However, performance is only one part of the equation. Fixture dimensions, LED density and cost considerations all influence product development.

“Most importantly to them is cost,” she notes. “All of those are things that we take into consideration to help figure out what are the best products to fill these needs.”

This customer-driven approach has contributed to the company’s expanding horticultural LED portfolio, providing manufacturers with multiple options depending on their fixture design objectives.

Preparing for the next design cycle
Although the horticultural industry is currently in peak growing season, Morgan notes that the busiest period for lighting installations is still ahead.

“The big season for light installations is going to start at the end of the summer, so that they all get installed during the early part of the fall, ready for winter grow time,” she says.

The timing of the new XLamp XPL S Line Photo Red LED launch aligns with future fixture development cycles rather than immediate installations.

“A lot of those lighting fixtures are already designed,” Morgan explains. “We’re really looking for it being incorporated into 2027 light designs, because they’ll start setting those designs and specifications this fall.”

For more information:
Cree LED
Phone: +1 (919) 313-5330
cree-led.com/