Lighting Science to Benefit from Multi-Billion Dollar LED Market

Producing electricity costs about $60 billion a year in the U.S. The cost of electrical energy should not be measured in dollars alone. There are also environmental costs like the cost of carbon dioxide emissions associated with electricity production. Approximately 20% of electricity is used for lighting.

Solid-state lighting [SSL] has the potential to revolutionize the lighting industry. SSL refers to a type of lighting that utilizes light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes or polymer light-emitting diodes as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments or gas. Solid-state lighting is increasingly used in a variety of lighting applications because it offers many benefits including, long life, energy savings, better quality light output, intrinsically safe, smaller flexible light fixtures and durability.

LEDs — commonly used in signs, signals and displays — are rapidly evolving to provide light sources for general illumination. According to Strategies Unlimited, the LED market reached $4.2 billion in 2006 and is set to move away from its current low-growth state in the next 1-3 years, as new markets begin to emerge. Growth in the high-brightness LED market in the next 3-5 years will be driven by lighting, display backlighting and automotive applications. The overall market will grow about 17% annually over the next five years and will reach $9 billion by 2011. Cell phones and other handheld devices dominate the LED market, but new uses are catching on.

The U.S DOE has made a long-term commitment to advance the development and market introduction of energy-efficient white-light sources for general illumination. In this sense, DOE has developed a comprehensive national strategy that includes Basic Energy Science, Core Technology Research, Product Development, Commercialization Support, Standards Development and an SSL Partnership. DOE supports research, development and the demonstration of promising SSL technologies by providing numerous funding opportunities.

Lighting Science Group Corporation (LSCG.OB) designs and sells highly energy efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solutions based on its proprietary Optimized Digital Lighting ® (ODL®) technology in consumer and professional applications. ODL® technology enables LEDs to operate at the highest lighting levels over the longest life and delivers these benefits in standard bulb shapes and sizes that do not require special ballasts or sockets. ODL® technology depends on more than 25 patents and pending patents in power management, thermal management, manufacturing processes, miniaturized circuit design, aesthetic design and other areas. The Company established key relationships with the world’s leaders in LED technology, such as OSRAM and Super Vision International.

LSCG has worldwide strategic distribution agreements in countries such as Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Recently, the Company announced the intention to establish operations in Europe. According to Govi Rao, CEO of LSCG, Europe represents a significant part of the growth opportunity in innovative lighting solutions. The Company looks forward to establishing LSCG as a leading solutions provider in Europe, which widely appreciate and embrace the multiple applications and benefits of solid state lighting.

The reliance on the Company’s technology was underlined by the recent event when LSCG had an instrumental contribution for the illumination of New Year's Times Square Ball, lit by LEDs. LSCG was commissioned by Philips Lighting to develop an LED lighting system to deliver the first environmentally friendly, brighter, more responsive New Year's Eve ball, while maintaining the core lighting elements of the old ball.

Comments

[oldchemstry:]

please explain organic light , is it what lightening bugs produce ?

2008 Feb 05 10:13 AM

[guntherd20:]

A few years ago Kodak announced some new important invention concerning LEDs. Did this ever become commercial?

2008 Feb 05 11:10 AM

[oilsands:]

From what I have been able to learn, there are only two real producers of LEDs, Phillips and Cree. That limitsw production capacity. The demand will surely grow, and supply too, but there may well be a lag as the production lines are supplemented.

2008 Feb 05 11:38 AM