From LASER World of PHOTONICS 2019: Light as the Key to Global Sustainability

The Laser World of Photonics panel (from left): Pfeiffer, Mayer, Poprave, Schmitz

June 25, 2019

Bruce A. Bennett, Editor, Tech Briefs Media

MUNICH, GERMANY — One of the big events on opening day at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2019 was a press conference held to announce the findings of a unique study conducted jointly by SPECTARIS, the German high-tech industry association, and LASER World of PHOTONICS.

Called “Light as the key to global sustainability,” the study focused on how photonics can be used in the fight to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thereby meet the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement.

Presenting the results of the study was a distinguished panel of industry experts:

Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Deputy CEO of Messe Munchen, which manages the energy requirements for 16 exhibit halls comprising 180,000 square meters of indoor space.
Jorg Mayer, Managing Director of SPECTARIS.
Professor Reinhart Poprave, Head of Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT/RWTH.
Dr. Christian Schmitz, CEO Laser Technology for TRUMPF Lasertechnik GmbH.

Basically, what the study determined is that the increased use of photonics technology, such as solar energy for example, has the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions by 3-billion tons by the year 2030. That represents 11-percent of the globally agreed upon goal of limiting temperature increases to 1.5 degrees. The study went on to provide a detailed list of areas where increased use of photonics can provide positive ecological benefits.

For more information on the study, visit the SPECTARIS website at www.spectaris.de .