September 28, 2005—The US Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced a $4 million solicitation for research into solid-state lighting (SSL) that has the potential to create light with virtually no heat, and to double the efficiency of general lighting systems, saving energy costs for consumers and reducing lighting’s environmental impact. Core SSL technologies include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and light-emitting polymers.
Breakthroughs in LED and OLED technologies are catalyzing advances in solid-state lighting leading to better quality, more energy-efficient white-light sources that could ultimately replace many incandescent and fluorescent lamps. SSL sources are already replacing conventional technologies in automobile brake lights, traffic signals, exit signs, and flashlights.
The research solicitation seeks to advance the development of SSL technologies that can compete in the general illumination market and deliver significant energy savings, as part of DOE’s strategy to guide energy-efficient SSL technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace.
More information about this solicitation, which closes October 18, 2005, as well as Solid-State Lighting in general, is available from DOE.
