February 3, 2022

U.S. Secretary of Energy Announces Lighting Prize Winners

DOE L-Prize Concept Phase Winner Announcement by Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm

U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, kicked off the final day of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2022 Solid-State Lighting Workshop, cosponsored by the Illuminating Engineering Society. Secretary Granholm made some optimistic comments about the accomplishments of the Department of Energy and eventually announced the DOE L-Prize Concept Phase Winners.

Secretary Granholm announced the four winners of the Lighting Prize (L-Prize) Concept Phase. Four winning teams will each receive $20,000:

Project Tango, submitted by QuarkStar of Las Vegas, Nevada. The networked, white-tunable luminaire concept leverages innovations in optics, LED, and power conversion technology to deliver high efficacy, exceptional quality of light, and precise control of light distribution.

Sustainable and Connected Troffer Retrofit, submitted by Orion Energy Systems of Jacksonville, Florida. The concept offers a high-efficacy, networked LED luminaire with advanced controls that can be retrofitted in less than two minutes to an existing fluorescent luminaire.

Laterally Symmetrical Level 3 Engine for 3D Printing, submitted by Smash the Bulb/Bridgelux of Mountain View, California. This 3D-printed semi-indirect luminaire concept uses a high-performance light engine that requires no secondary optics and delivers high efficacy and excellent quality of light; an innovative optical design that reduces losses and addresses glare; and a luminaire housing that can be 3D printed on the job site.

Papaya Modular Lighting Ecosystem, submitted by Papaya of Evanston, Illinois. This highly modular luminaire platform designed by a team from outside the lighting industry uses a unique community-based approach; an all open-source aspect offers opportunities for innovators of all types to participate in evolving and innovating this lighting solution over time.

The L-Prize competition has three phases and teaming opportunities:

Concept Phase: Up to 10 winners ($20,000 each) COMPLETE
Invites innovative concept proposals, providing competitors with an opportunity to receive feedback on their proposals and potential for cash award.

Prototype Phase: Up to 3 winners ($2,000,000 prize pool) OPENING SOON
Seeks prototype products, emphasizing technological innovation and presenting the challenge to think outside standard forms, materials, and price points of commercially available products.

Manufacturing & Installation Phase: Up to 2 winners ($10,000,000 prize pool)
Encourages competitors to make innovative products, with incentives to manufacture and install these products in the U.S.

The first Lighting Prize was awarded by DOE in 2011 to recognize a high-efficiency LED replacement for the traditional 60-Watt A19 incandescent bulb. Just as the winning A-Lamp was a breakthrough and signaled a turning point in commercially available LED lighting, the current L-Prize is seeking comparable impact from the next generation of lighting en route to decarbonizing the built environment.

This article was updated at 1:03pm EST to include more details about each winning project.