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    1. Manufacturing Services & Testing
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    DOE publishes updated R&D plan for solid-state lighting

    April 5, 2010
    The updated R&D plan for LEDs and OLEDs indicates that warm and cool LED package efficacies are expected to approach 200 lm/W.
    Content Dam Leds En Articles 2010 04 Doe Publishes Updated R D Plan For Solid State Lighting Leftcolumn Article Thumbnailimage File
    The US Department of Energy has published the March 2010 edition of the Solid-State Lighting (SSL) R&D Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP).
    Doeplan1
    White LED package efficacy targets The MYPP provides a description of the activities the Department plans to undertake over the next several years to implement its SSL mission.

    The document reviews SSL technology status and trends for both LEDs and OLEDs, and offers an overview of the current DOE SSL R&D project portfolio.

    The DOE's Jim Brodrick, who runs the SSL program, says that the plan serves a number of key functions; "Not only as the main strategy document for our SSL R&D program and a tool that guides our funding awards, but also as our implementation plan."

    Doeplan2
    LED package price and performance The updating process is highly collaborative and depends on the input of dozens of real-world experts, who span a wide spectrum – from academics and researchers to device and luminaire manufacturers

    One significant update to the Technology Research and Development Plan is updated milestones to align DOE targets with progress made to date.

    Also, special attention has been paid to definitions, to align the MYPP terminology with the recently published IES Recommended Practice RP-16, Addendum a. Brodrick says that, far from being "an exercise in nitpicking and hair-splitting, this was a much-needed effort" to put the entire industry on the same page with regard to terminology, based on current standards and those in development.

    Doeplan3
    LED luminaire performance projections In attempting to identify areas requiring funding focus in the short term, the Plan clarifies the scope and description of various tasks that will move these efforts along.

    One interesting finding, says Brodrick, is that, although the efficacies of warm-white LEDs are presently well below those of cool-white products, there are ways to close that gap. Some of these are already being employed in products that have appeared on the market. Ultimately, both warm and cool LED package efficacies are expected to approach 200 lm/W.

    The DOE will continue to update the Plan on an annual basis to incorporate new analysis, progress, and new research priorities as science evolves.