December 8, 2003—Navigant Consulting has delivered two studies to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that analyze and estimate energy savings from solid state lighting—light emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs—in niche applications today and general lighting applications in the future.
This research, funded by DOE, found that energy savings to date from LEDs exceed the power produced from one large electric power plant—more than 8 billion kilowatt-hours. If solid state lighting achieves its price and performance targets, over the next two decades more than 30 percent of the estimated lighting energy consumption will not be needed, representing billions of dollars of savings for consumers.
The study titled “Energy Savings Estimate of Light Emitting Diodes in Niche Lighting Applications” found that LED traffic signals use only 10 percent of the electricity consumed by the incandescent lamps they replace. In other words, 90 percent of the electricity bill that municipalities pay can be eliminated. Moreover, LED signals last several times longer, allowing for additional savings through reduced maintenance costs. Exit signs are identified as another important niche application, where an estimated 80 percent of the U.S. installed base of exit signs is now LED.
LEDs have also made inroads into mobile applications such as brake and signal lights on trucks, buses and automobiles. In the report, the energy savings of these applications are reported in gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel because the electricity is generated on-board.
The study titled “Energy Savings Potential of Solid State Lighting in General Illumination Applications” estimated energy savings potential if solid state lighting can achieve certain price and performance criteria. The report considered two scenarios—one where the technology receives a moderate national investment of $50 million per year and an accelerated scenario based on an investment of $100 million per year. Solid state lighting achieves different cost, efficiency and durability targets under each scenario.
Under the moderate investment scenario, in 2025 the energy savings associated with solid state lighting will total approximately 114 billion kilowatt-hours, or the equivalent electrical output of about 14 large power plants. Under the accelerated investment scenario, in 2025 the total energy savings is nearly three times that—reaching 326 billion kilowatt-hours, representing more than 40 large power plants. Over the analysis period of 2005 to 2025, the cumulative energy savings under the accelerated investment scenario total nearly 1,850 billion kilowatt-hours, which equates to more than $120 billion in electricity bill savings for the United States over that time period.
Copies of these reports, “Energy Savings Estimates of Light Emitting Diodes in Niche Lighting Applications” and “Energy Savings Potential of Solid State Lighting in General Illumination Applications” are available on the DOEs Web site under publications.
