Photonics is part of many aspects of modern life. Green photonics is similarly pervasive and is well placed to tackle the environmental and energy related challenges that we face. Green photonics concerns the latest photonics and optoelectronic tools and materials that will reduce power consumption, enable cleaner manufacturing, and create new energy generation for a broad range of applications.
Green photonics covers a broad range of photonic technologies and applications: photovoltaic electricity generation, highly efficient solid-state lighting (SSL), new energy-efficient communication technologies, optical sensing for improved energy efficiency and reduced pollution, and clean manufacturing using laser processing. If our societies are to save energy, reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and protect our fragile environment, we will have to find more efficient ways to produce and consume energy, and photonics offers solutions for both.
Examples of where photonics is applied in Energy & Environment include:
Green Energy
- Solide State Lighting and Displays
- Data Centres:
Optical Communications & Computing - Renewable Energy Generation:
Fushion and Photovoltaics
Environmental Monitoring
- Strain sensors
- Temperature sensors
- Vibration sensors
- Chemical sensors