DOE to Spend $37 Million in ARRA Funds on Solid-State Lighting Research

Jan. 22, 2010
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu announced on Jan. 15 that the DOE will use more than $37 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support high-efficiency solid-state lighting projects

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu announced on Jan. 15 that the DOE will use more than $37 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support high-efficiency solid-state lighting projects. “The United States must lead in energy efficiency,” said Secretary Chu in a DOE press release. “These solid-state lighting projects will help us significantly cut our energy use, reduce our carbon footprint, and save money. This funding will also support the United States as a global leader in this rapidly evolving industry, creating high-tech, value-added jobs.”

The projects address a broad spectrum of research, development, and deployment for solid-state lighting (SSL) technologies and will be leveraged with nearly $28.5 million in private industry cost share for a total project value of more than $66 million. The 17 projects selected for funding include solid-state lighting core research, product development, and domestic manufacturing. Six of the projects will support the development and improvement of commercially viable solid-state lighting sources, components or integrated lighting products.

Among the manufacturers getting a share of the $10.3 million in product development funding will be Cree, Inc., Durham, N.C.; GE, Niskayuna, N.Y.; Lightscape Materials, Inc., Princeton, N.J.; Osram Sylvania Products, Inc., Beverly, Mass.; Philips Lumileds Lighting Co. LLC, San Jose, Calif.; and PPG Industries, Cheswick, Pa.

Eight projects will focus on achieving significant cost reductions and enhanced quality by improving manufacturing equipment, processes or monitoring techniques. The manufacturers sharing $23.5 million in funding are Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif.; GE; KLA Tencor Corp., Milpitas, Calif.; Philips; Ultratech Inc. , San Jose, Calif.; Universal Display Corp., Ewing, N.J.; and Veeco Instruments, Somerset, N.J.

This is the sixth round of DOE funding for solid-state lighting core technology research and product development, and the first time that DOE has funded solid-state lighting manufacturing projects. This expanded focus is part of a new DOE initiative to accelerate the adoption of SSL technology through manufacturing improvements that reduce costs and improve quality.