# Lighting and displays: Overview

From glowing filaments to self-lit pixels: how electricity becomes light

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/overview/

What this tile covers Turning electricity into light, from LEDs and lasers to screens. Share of use 2.5% share of final energy use (2025)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. IEA 4E estimates lighting at about 3,600 TWh, 12% of world electricity, in 2025 including industry (IEA's narrower buildings and outdoor figure is about 8%); 12% of electricity's 21% share is about 2.5% of final energy (calculated). Displays not separately counted. Source: [The role of LED lighting in climate](https://www.iea-4e.org/ssl/news/the-role-of-led-lighting-in-climate/), IEA 4E Solid State Lighting Annex.

#### Key facts

| **Chain** | Electrical → light (+ heat) |
|---|---|

#### Included from the reference tables

- LEDs
- Fluorescent and gas-discharge lamps
- Incandescent bulbs
- Lasers
- LCD and OLED screens

#### Linked to the material world
[Ga Gallium](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/gallium/)[In Indium](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/indium/)[REE Rare earths](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/rare_earths/)

#### Also in Conversion devices
[ST Steam turbines and thermal power plants](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/)[CCGT Gas turbines and combined cycle](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/)[ICE Internal combustion engines and gensets](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_engines/)[Gen Generators and alternators](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_generators/)[Mot Electric motors and drives](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/)[PE Transformers and power electronics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/)[FC Fuel cells](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/)[Elz Electrolysers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_electrolysers/)[HP Heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_heat_pumps/)[EH Electric heating](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_electric_heat/)[Blr Boilers, furnaces and stoves](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_combustion_heat/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/links/index.md)