The lighting industry has experienced a revolution with the arrival of novel lighting technologies in particular Solid state Lighting (SSL), which comprises both non-organic semiconductor-based Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and organic LEDs (OLEDs). SSL has clear advantages in energy efficiency over conventional lighting technologies, and since 19 % of electricity worldwide is used for lighting, this can contribute significantly to saving energy problems worldwide and contributing to Europe’s 2020 strategy.

In order to validate performance claims and stimulate user confidence, as well as facilitate efficient development of SSL products, dedicated metrology is needed. Conventional optical metrology was based on incandescent light sources. During the EMRP 2009 Energy Call JRP ENG05, basic metrology for first-generation SSL products was developed. Now, a new generation of SSL products, based on novel technologies (notably OLEDs and OLED arrays, nano-structured and phosphor-free LEDs, and high-power LED structures), is appearing. The research in metrology needs to keep pace with these technical developments and dedicated traceable measurement solutions are needed to sustain the innovation and user uptake of novel SSL products.

A second area where metrology is urgently needed is in the area of lifetime estimation. Lifetime predictions reach in the tens of thousands of hours. This forms a major benefit and underpins the economic viability of SSL products, which require higher initial investment, but methods to assess the reliability of these claims are lacking.

In this JRP, a consortium of national metrology institutes (NMIs) from ten European countries work together, in close collaboration with industry and academia, to establish traceability for new generation SSL and SSL lifetime, taking into account important aspects as safety and human comfort.

The JRP has a projected impact across the entire SSL value chain, providing developers, designers, producers, distributors and end-users with the tools they need to improve, predict and specify SSL performance based on reliable measurements. A particular emphasis will be on providing input to standardisation activities. The leading role of JRP-Consortium members in key standardisation bodies will ensure efficient and high impact in this area.