News

Energy Department Provides $7 Million for SSL Product Development

June 07, 2006 by Jeff Shepard

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced that the DOE will provide a total of $7 million for five cost-shared projects for solid-state lighting (SSL) product development. Solid-state lighting has the potential to more than double the efficiency of general lighting systems, reducing overall U.S. energy consumption and saving consumers money. The selected companies will provide a 30% average cost-share, demonstrating a strong industry commitment to the technology.

"Solid-state lighting is a key part of President Bush's energy policy and the Department of Energy's overall strategy to increase energy efficiency," Secretary Bodman said. "Not only does this technology have the potential to greatly reduce lighting energy consumption in U.S. buildings, but it will also enhance our energy security." Secretary Bodman made the announcement while offering remarks at the Community Power Alliance's (CPA) Reliability Leadership Conference. While there, he discussed the importance of electric reliability and the important role that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is playing to ensure America has an affordable, reliable electricity supply.

These projects continue DOE's public/private partnership on high-priority activities that will advance state-of-the-art SSL used for general lighting applications. Unlike incandescent and fluorescent lamps, solid-state lighting creates light without producing heat. A semi-conducting material converts electricity directly into light, which maximizes the light's energy efficiency. Solid-state lighting includes a variety of light-producing semiconductor devices. SSL includes light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). LEDs are found in all kinds of devices; they form numbers on digital clocks, light up watches, and transmit information from remote controls. Consumers would also see LEDs in brake lights, traffic signals and exit signs. OLED technology is more commonly used commercially, for example in small screens for mobile phones, portable digital music players, and digital cameras.

The unique attributes of SSL drive a need for a coordinated federal approach that encompasses research, development and commercialization support. DOE's commercialization support strategy includes the use of design competitions such as Lighting for Tomorrow and the development of ENERGY STAR® criteria for SSL products. The Department is also working closely with key standards-generating organizations to coordinate and accelerate the development of test procedures and standards for SSL.

The companies selected for the product development are: Color Kinetics Inc., Eastman Kodak, General Electric Global Research, OSRAM SYLVANIA Development Inc., and SRI International.