Spectra tuneable light-emitting electrochemical cells for energy efficient greenhouses

Artificial lighting for greenhouses in Europe consumes 160 terawatt-hour electricity per year, equivalent to the entire electricity consumption of Sweden.

If the light source can be switched from the today widely used sodium lamp to a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC), an estimated 50% of this electricity can be saved and a reduction of wastage in plants and chemicals can be expected.

However, a drawback that currently holds back the employment of LECs in green houses is the lack of efficient emitters that emit at the sweet-spot wavelengths for plant growth.

We will address this issue by developing novel emitters with high efficiency, tuned emission spectra and high stability, which will be employed in LECs equipped with smart control system that will be field-tested in greenhouses.

The results of the project will thus pave the way for the introduction of efficient and appropriately tuned LECs for energy-efficient application in greenhouses for a sustainable future.