Challenges in LED packaging and green lighting

To establish environmentally responsible electrical energy supply with sufficient capacities is well known as the global challenge of these days. Actually lighting already consumes about 20 % of the world wide produced electrical power. Solid state lighting (SSL) can reduce the consumption significantly by up to 66 %. LEDs, as the main fraction in SSL, can theoretically convert the electrical energy by 100 % to visible light. This paper introduces common lighting solutions and points out challenges for LED packaging. A detailed discussion will be done on heat dissipation, which is a significant factor regarding efficiency as well as life time. Standard and forward-looking materials and techniques will be introduced. Finally, the environmental impact of the SSL modules will be discussed. Even if the LEDs are more efficient than fluorescent lamps and need by total weight less material than incandescent lamps, the used materials are noble and rare, so a critical validation of their use is needed.