Electronics giant Sony yesterday announced it is to invest over $200m in expanding its range of new OLED energy efficient flat screen TVs.

The company launched its first OLED TV last November amidst promises the organic light-emitting diode technology would use 40 per cent less energy than comparable LCD TVs.

However, mainstream adoption of the relatively small 11in screen unit remains unlikely and now the manufacturer has signalled its intention to scale up the energy saving technology and "accelerate the shift to middle and large size, high image quality OLED panels".

OLED screens contain organic compounds that create images by emitting light when electricity is applied. This approach removes the need for the energy-intensive back light that features in conventional liquid crystal flat screen TVs, allowing designers to cut energy use and produce thinner screens.

The company said the ¥22bn investment will commence in the fourth quarter of this year and will focus on developing new production technologies capable of delivering larger screens. In particular, it said it would reinforce its thin film transistor and electroluminescent later coating processing facilities at its factory in Higashiura.