Growing global demand for energy-efficient and ecologically friendly lighting solutions is positively impacting the market for LED (light emitting diode) and CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) powered lamps and installations. This demand is being further driven by government legislation mandating the use of LED and CFL technology in public sector outfits, common public spaces, utility services and offices and factories in many parts of the world. According to recent figures by strategyr.com, the global market for lamps using CFL and LED technology is predicted to reach around $24 billion by 2015 and in Saudi Arabia the energy savings potential of SR125 billion during five years. The Kingdom's energy demand may double in 10 years. Saudi Arabia has an overall generating capacity of about 45,000 megawatts, according to the state utility Saudi Electricity Company. That's likely to climb to 75,000 megawatts by 2018 and more than 120,000 megawatts by 2030, SEC said. Saudi Aramco, the world's largest state-owned oil company, plans to double its power-generating capacity to 4,000 megawatts by 2015 to supply all the electricity it expects to need for crude and natural-gas production. The additional capacity wouldn't be part of the national power grid and would make Aramco independent in power by 2015, Ziyad Al Shiha, the executive director of Aramco Power Systems said earlier. Aside from public and domestic lighting, LED technology is being increasingly used in a multitude of ways in everyday life such as mobile phones, LED TVs, notebook and laptop computers, backlighting, landscaping and automotive lights. "Awareness of the need for energy conservation is spreading across the markets of the Middle East and leading to great potential demand," said Ahmed Pauwels, Chief Executive Officer of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organizer of the upcoming three-day "Light Middle East" event that will run on Sept. 12-14, 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The forum will enable the majors in global lighting solutions to easily research and tap into this promising market, Pauwels added. "The trend toward utilizing LED and CFL technology as a greener alternative lighting solution, is being increasingly employed in many of the large-scale infrastructure projects in the region like the Yas Hotel, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the upcoming Dubai Waterfront," he further said.
