A Laser-Based Illumination Technology for Indoor Horticulture Applications

Horticulture activities rely heavily on two important resources: light and water. Artificial lighting technologies are particularly useful in countries with limited sunlight and rainfall. In arid regions such as Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, over 95 percent of water can be lost through evaporation. Due to the scarcity of water in these regions, it is often necessary to cultivate plants in an enclosed environment, which can conserve water by up to 90 percent. Prof. Boon and his team at KAUST have developed a laserbased  illumination system for indoor plant cultivation that is both efficient and cost effective. The laser-based system replaces traditional fluorescent or LED technologies that are energy intensive and require constant monitoring for maintenance purposes. A single source of laser can potentially replace hundreds of fluorescent light tubes and LED lights.

USA