Saudi researchers develop innovative nanope technology to cut LED carbon emissions

A groundbreaking study has unveiled a solution to reduce carbon emissions from LED streetlights. The research explores the use of nano polyethylene (nanoPE) to enhance thermal radiation emission, effectively lowering LED temperatures and improving energy efficiency. This is reported by Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The study highlights that nearly 75 per cent of input energy in LEDs is lost as heat, which accelerates component degradation. By incorporating nanoPE, more than 80 per cent of infrared radiation escapes into the sky, while over 95 per cent of visible light is reflected downward, maximising illumination and efficiency.

The research team demonstrated that nanoPE, a modified polyethylene plastic, can be engineered with nanoscale pores – 30 nanometres in size, nearly 1,000 times thinner than a human hair – to selectively reflect visible light while allowing infrared radiation to dissipate.

With lighting accounting for around 20 per cent of global electricity consumption and 6 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, this innovation presents a scalable and cost-effective approach to reducing energy waste and promoting sustainable urban development.

Photo: Envato