President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a renewed focus on energy-efficiency on June 29 (see Lighting to the fore in Obama's energy-efficiency efforts), with $50 million allocated to SSL projects.

The funding is directed toward two existing DOE SSL R&D program areas, now on Round 6, namely Core Technology Research and Product Development. A third new program area will focus on accelerating SSL manufacturing improvements that lower the cost and enhance the performance of SSL products.

DOE is soliciting SSL projects in the following categories:

• Core technology projects focus on applied research for technology development, with particular emphasis on meeting efficiency, performance, and cost targets. Selected projects will fill technology gaps or provide enabling knowledge or data.
• Product development projects focus on using the knowledge gained from basic or applied research to develop or improve commercially viable materials, devices, or systems. Selected projects will develop targeted market applications with fully defined price, efficacy, and other performance parameters necessary for success of the proposed product.
• Manufacturing projects focus on achieving significant cost reductions through improvements in manufacturing equipment, processes, or monitoring techniques. Selected projects will address technical challenges that must be overcome before prices fall to a level where SSL can compete with existing lighting on a first-cost basis.