Driver device and a corresponding driving method for driving a load, in particular an LED assembly comprising one or more LEDs. To provide a better performance, better cost-efficiency, improved power factor and reduced losses, a driver device (1, 1', 2, 2') is provided comprising a rectifier unit (10) for rectifying a received AC supply voltage (VS), load terminals (20) for providing a drive voltage (VL) and / or a drive current (IL) for driving said load, a capacitive storage unit (30) coupled between said rectifier unit and said load terminals for storing electrical energy provided by said rectifier unit and providing electrical energy to said load, and a bridge switching unit (40); coupled between said rectifier unit and said load for switching said capacitive storage unit into a load current path from said rectifier unit to said load terminals with a desired polarity and for switching said capacitive storage unit out of said load current path.