Energy Department invests over $10M in efficient lighting R&D

Date
06/13/2014

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The Energy Department announced nine research and development projects that will receive funding to support solid-state lighting (SSL) core technology research and product development. The projects will help accelerate the development of high-quality light-emitting diode (LED) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) products that can significantly reduce energy costs for American families and businesses and ensure that the U.S. remains competitive globally. LEDs are intense sources of light consisting of inorganic materials, where OLEDs are diffuse light sources that consist of organic materials.

SSL technologies based on LEDs and OLEDs are about ten times more energy-efficient than conventional incandescent lighting and can last more than 25 times longer. In total, the nine selected projects will receive nearly $10.5 million and will make a cost-share contribution for a total public-private investment of more than $13.7 million. The projects selected to receive funding will help to further reduce the cost and improve the quality of SSL products:

Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)—Improving the heat-conducting properties of the phosphor used in LEDs, which will increase light output and reduce costs.
Cree, Inc. (Durham, North Carolina)—Developing a new low-cost, high-efficiency LED structure by modifying the manufacturing process to reduce processing time and waste.
Momentive Performance Materials Quartz, Inc. (Strongsville, Ohio)—Developing next-generation LED package structures using transparent encapsulants that allow for higher drive current, resulting in increased light output.
OLEDWorks, LLC (Rochester, New York)—Developing cost-effective manufacturing technologies necessary to make high-performance, low-cost OLED panels.
Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, LLC (San Jose, California)—Reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of LED lighting products by developing a high-voltage LED light engine with a built-in driver.
Philips Research North America, LLC (Briarcliff Manor, New York)—Developing an innovative, energy-efficient LED lighting system for hospital patient suites that takes into consideration health and wellbeing as well as visual needs.
Pixelligent Technologies, LLC (Baltimore, Maryland)—Improving the efficiency of OLED lighting by using nanocrystals to increase the light extraction.
Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)—Increasing the efficiency of OLED lighting on flexible substrates by enhancing the light extraction and removing costly materials.
University of California (Los Angeles, California)—Improving energy efficiency and reducing the manufacturing cost of OLED lighting through the use of an integrated plastic substrate instead of the usual glass with indium tin oxide.

This is the ninth round of the department's investments in solid-state lighting core technology research and product development. These efforts are meant to accelerate the adoption of SSL technology through improvements that reduce costs and enhance product quality and performance. For more information on the selections, visit the DOE Selections webpage on the DOE SSL website.

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

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