Light-emitting wallpaper

This is the hope of the Carbon Trust, which is backing new organic LED (OLED) lighting technology that promises major carbon cuts. 

LOMOX, the company developing the ultra-efficient OLED lighting technology, has been awarded a £454,000 grant by the Carbon Trust.

It is claimed the OLED materials have a wide variety of potential applications and when coated onto a film could be used to cover walls, creating light-emitting wallpaper that removes the need for traditional light bulbs.

While operating lifetime has traditionally been a problem with OLED technology, LOMOX claims to have found a way to achieve significantly longer lifetimes than fluorescent lamps. The company also said the technology will be more efficient (producing 150 lumens/W) as it only emits light along one axis. It is believed that OLEDs can produce a more natural-looking light than other forms of lighting.

The Carbon Trust has announced that it is looking for other technologies with significant carbon-saving potential to receive up to £500,000 of grant funding through its Applied Research scheme. It recently launched an open call for applications, which will close on 18 February 2010.