DOE Announces Solid-State Lighting Funding

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the selection of nine solid-state lighting (SSL) projects to receive funding focusing on core technology research, product development and U.S. manufacturing.

Cree Inc. received $1.5 million in funding for its high-efficacy, multifunctional SSL platform. GE Global Research was awarded $1.2 million for its highly integrated modular LED luminaire. For its narrow emitting red phosphors to improve PC LED efficacy, Lumenari Inc. received $1.5 million, and Lumileds received 1.5 million for its high-efficacy, high-power LED for directional applications

Columbia University received $1 million in funding for its graded alloy quantum dots for energy efficient solid state lighting. For its enhanced light extraction from low-cost white organic LEDs (OLEDs) fabricated on novel patterned substrates, Iowa State University received $1.3 million. North Carolina State University received over $500,000 for its low-cost corrugated substrates for high-efficiency organic LEDs. Pennsylvania State University received $1.1 million for its mitigation of catastrophic shorts for improved OLED lighting panel reliability, and for its elimination of plasmon losses in high-efficiency, white organic LED devices for lighting applications, the University of Michigan received $900,000.

Total DOE funding for the nine projects is more than $8.2 million and leverages a cost-share contribution from each recipient, for a total public-private investment of over $11.5 million.

This is the tenth round of DOE funding for SSL core technology research and product development, and the sixth round for U.S. SSL manufacturing R&D. These efforts are part of DOE's initiative to accelerate the adoption of SSL technology through improvements that reduce costs and enhance product quality and performance.