Strategic Planning to Inform DOE R&D on Emerging Solid State Lighting Technologies (January 2007)

CONCUR co-facilitated a review of the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) priorities for core technology and product development research on the topic of solid state lighting (SSL) at a national workshop convened in Phoenix, Arizona (January 31 - February 2, 2007). SSL, built on the rapidly-developing technologies of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDS), holds great promise as a light source and a way to reduce a major component of the US energy demand. Some analysts forecast that by 2027, adoption of LED/OLED technologies could decrease total electricity consumption for lighting by 33%. LEDs are semiconductor devices that emit light when connected in a circuit.

Frequently used as “pilot” lights in electronic appliances to indicate whether the circuit is closed, they are now becoming viable options for many types of commercial and residential lighting as efficiencies improve. OLEDs are a special type of LED in which the emissive layer is a thin-film of organic compounds. OLEDs have applications in the areas of television, computer, and portable system displays. Participants in the workshop included university and DOE researchers, lighting industry specialists, utility executives, and senior DOE staff. CONCUR teamed with colleagues Doug Brookman and Jonathan Raab to facilitate four intensive breakout sessions, each with 25-50 participants. The results will be used to refine DOE’s program of solid state lighting R&D investments in the coming years.