Light at the End of the Tunnel

A case study from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) archives which looks at how making low-energy LED lighting cheaper and more widely available could slash UK electricity consumption by up to 15%. EPSRC-supported researchers are developing new ways of producing gallium nitride (GaN) – used in energy saving LEDs – for a tenth of the current price. This lower cost method could mean cheap mass produced LEDs become widely available for lighting homes and offices in the next five years. GaN lighting could also bring major benefits in other areas such as drinking water provision in developing countries and hygiene in hospitals. If aluminium is added to GaN then deep ultra-violet light can be produced and this kills all viruses and bacteria. Fitting ultra-violet GaN LEDs to the inside of water pipes would eradicate diseases, and simply shining a GaN torch at a hospital wall or trolley could kill any ‘superbugs’ such as MRSA and C Difficile. EPSRC funds the Cambridge University based Centre for Gallium Nitride directed by Professor Colin Humphreys. EPSRC is a part of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) partnership of research councils.