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SSL4EU: Solid State Lighting

A new era of lighting appears at the horizon: Solid State Lighting (SSL). Solid state light sources based on inorganic semiconductors will revolutionize modern lighting due to their unique properties such as long lifetime, colour tuneability, and instantaneous switching. But most important: Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mercury-free and will become the light source with the highest energy-efficiency in the near future. Thus, LEDs are able to outperform all existing light sources and save significant amounts of energy, which will not only reduce CO2 emissions but also lower the energy bill of consumers.

Despite outstanding efficiency improvements within just a few years, LEDs just started to enter the general lighting market. For a broad and successful penetration of LEDs into the general lighting market, however, efficiency is not the only key factor that counts: Consumer acceptance will only be reached if a light source with high energy efficiency AND also high quality at moderate prices can be provided. High quality of LED lighting solutions comprises high colour rendering and functionalities such as dimming and colour tuneability. It is essential for SSL not to repeat the same mistakes that were made with Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) that even today still lack user acceptance in terms of quality.

The overall goal of SSL4EU is to explore an efficient and high quality LED light engine with high colour rendering, a tuneable light output spectrum and an adaptable light output level that will enable luminaire manufacturers the entrance into the general illumination market and serve as leverage to push the LED luminaire business in Europe.