The article «Saving on a Light Bulb», published in «Vedomosti», is dedicated to the innovative technologies of the company «TSERS», which develops LED lighting equipment and recently became a resident of the Zelenograd special economic zone (SEZ).
The article describes the history of the company's development since 2005, when a holding company engaged in high-tech production in the field of energy-saving technologies, R&D and engineering was created on the basis of an existing laboratory and design bureau. The company develops LED-based lamps in the southern regions of Russia, and has achieved significant success in this: «In 2006, we were the first in the world to equip an entire street with LEDs as a gift to the city of Azov. The introduction of new technologies everywhere runs into a bureaucratic barrier. And by giving a gift to the city, we create a kind of «center of indignation», after which it is more difficult to ignore us,» the founder of the holding, Yuri Osipenko, revealed the secret of promotion.
Today, «TSERS» is one of the main players in its market sector, its lamps are currently being tested at «Mosgorsvet» facilities, at «Russian Railways» pilot facilities — for example, they are already illuminating the platform of the Leningradsky railway station in Moscow.
Experts admit that LED lighting has a future, and after 2010 these energy-saving lamps will begin to replace conventional incandescent bulbs. «The main driver of industry development will be the replacement of traditional light sources with LED lamps, which are superior to traditional ones in terms of energy savings and service life. This will happen most dynamically in the segments of street lighting, as well as housing and communal services, commercial buildings and industrial facilities,» Vedomosti quotes experts from the Rusnano Group of Companies.
«Due to savings on operation, our lamp pays for itself in three years, having a resource of 20 years or more,» says Osipenko. «The LED increases the cost of a light point (lighting support) by about 15%. But as the technology develops, it will become cheaper.»
Currently, the company «TSERS» is seeking to obtain state support in the implementation of its projects, primarily in their implementation, including overcoming the administrative inertia of the state apparatus, as well as in strategic investment. «It is difficult to promote a project that justifies itself within 2-3 years, even if the economic benefit will then be in the millions.
A mid-level official openly says that he is not interested in this, since the project has no operating costs that could be written off, «say market participants.
The company has unique developments and a competent, ambitious team. The return on investment in the project is attractive, according to conservative estimates, they plan to reach a sales volume of about $80 million within four years,» investment experts estimate «CERS.»
In the near future, «TSERS» is preparing to move to Zelenograd and launch scientific work, attracting specialists from all over the world: «We are negotiating with the State Corporation «Rosnano» on the preparation and joint production of nanochips for LEDs.
If the project takes place, we will be able to return some former Soviet scientists to Russia,» Yuri Osipenko told the publication.
Zelenograd.ru talked to Sergey Ivanovich Sumin, CEO of the Innovation Company CERS, about the company's immediate and long-term plans for its activities and development in Zelenograd.
— Is CERS going to present some kind of city lighting project in Zelenograd, as well as in other cities?
— Yes, we are planning to do so. Moreover, we are planning to participate in lighting the territories of special economic zones, including Zelenograd.
At the beginning of next year we will hold talks with the Zelenograd administration on this topic, and at the same time we will discuss the possibility of implementing some kind of presentation pilot project for lighting city streets.
I think that in 2009 we will already install some fairly large lighting system for the city so that both residents and the administration can evaluate its efficiency and quality – after all, LED lamps are incomparable with incandescent lamps in terms of brightness and energy savings.
In addition, this will improve traffic safety, since LED lighting is brighter while consuming 3 times less power.
The savings on a citywide scale will be colossal.
— You don't have such projects in Moscow?
— Yes, but they are local. Moscow has a strong «lamp» lobby, so our Moscow projects are only associated with private commercial companies for now — they recognize the possibility of saving energy and money to pay for it earlier than public sector employees and the administration.
Our lighting has been implemented, for example, in the residential complex «Kutuzovskaya Riviera». We hope to start expanding to other administrative districts of the capital through Zelenograd, as a district of Moscow.
— Tell us where and how lighting with lamps from «TSERS» has already been implemented at the Leningradsky railway station? After all, many Zelenograd residents travel to the capital daily by commuter trains, and can already see the LEDs in action.
— The Leningradsky railway station is re-equipping the platform lighting systems — replacing lamps with LEDs. Our company is a strategic partner of Russian Railways, and within this framework, a number of railway stations are already being re-equipped with our lamps — the first was Leningradsky, long-distance train platforms.
— On what scale does TSERS plan to be implemented in Zelenograd — an office, a representative office, a design bureau, production facilities? When and how many jobs are expected to be created?
— We have just received the documents of a resident of the Zelenograd SEZ.
While construction is underway on the territory of the SEZ in Alabushevo, we will work from our Moscow office until the necessary buildings are put into operation.
Our main production facilities are located in Rostov-on-Don (TSERS is a subsidiary of the Rostov company Notis).
In Zelenograd, we plan to locate a research and design bureau that will be involved in new programs, including within the framework of the Rosnanotechnologies project, as well as a pilot production facility.
According to our business plan, we will have about 250 jobs in Zelenograd, the full launch of the enterprise is scheduled for the end of 2012. We will attract personnel mainly from among Zelenograd residents and residents of nearby areas, from the already existing specialists we will bring, perhaps, only a few leading engineers; we want to attract several American engineers to work with us.
To attract employees, we will, of course, cooperate with MIET, which produces young engineers.
The technologies we are developing are very promising, LEDs are just starting to enter the market, replacing lamp lighting.
Experts predict an annual 100% growth of this market, regardless of any economic crises.
Currently, our company occupies 70% of the Russian market for LED street lighting, but it is still very small.
All our new developments will be presented in the Zelenograd SEZ, and street lighting implementation projects will most likely be tested on the streets of Zelenograd.