Lighting is an indispensable energy end use of man. A significant number people in developing countries live
without electric lighting and depend on oil-based lamps. Globally, lighting consumes substantial amount of
energy and is a major contributor to green house emissions. Conventional electric lighting systems such as
incandescent lamps are highly inefficient and waste energy while the fluorescent/CFL lamps contain toxic
chemicals like mercury. Incandescent lamps with short lifespan as well as the fluorescent/CFL lamps pose
environmental waste disposal problems (e.g.). The use of renewable energy resource such as solar and wind
power systems for example as sources of power for the most efficient and long life lighting source such as
high-brightness light emitting diodes (LEDs) (also known as solid state lighting) would reduce global energy
consumption for lighting by half, with corresponding reduction in green house emissions. In developing
countries solar powered solid state lighting (SPSSL) would ensure access to electric lighting by the disperse
population who may not be connected to the national grid in the near feature. In this article we elaborately
review the upcoming solid state lighting technology. The physics and principles of operation of LEDs are also
reviewed. The impact of this new lighting technology on developing countries in the areas of commerce,
education, health and environmental impacts in comparison to conventional lighting technologies is the main
thrust of this review
