TECHNOLOGY
L-Prize Concept Phase Concludes By: Owen Kavanagh The first stage of the United States Department of Energy’s Lighting Prize (or L-Prize) competition concluded on Feb. 3, 2022. Four groups were awarded $20,000 each for their Solid-State Lighting (SSL) design concepts and the prototype phase will begin soon. With the first L-prize stage complete, the commercial real estate industry has moved one step closer to the next generation of LED lighting.
The L-Prize
The L-Prize is a contest held by the US DOE to encourage innovation in the lighting industry. The previous L-Prize competition held in 2011 (discussed in this CRE Insight Journal Article) was won by Philips 940 lumen, 10-watt LED bulb. The DOE began a new L-Prize competition in 2021 with three main phases. • Phase 1: Concept – The first phase of the 2021 L-Prize competition rewards concept systems that meet energy efficiency, lighting quality, connectivity, and product life cycle requirements that exceed currently available commercial products. Up to 10 entrants win $20,000 for their designs. Four groups won. • Phase 2: Prototypes – The second phase of the L-Prize competition seeks technological innovations through product prototypes. Entrants are encouraged to think outside the box and look at novel forms and materials in their designs. Phase 2 has a $2,000,000 prize pool for up to 3 winners. Phase 2 is anticipated to open Feb. 15, 2022, with an anticipated deadline of Dec. 15, 2022. Phase 2 winners will be announced Feb. 2023. • Phase 3: Manufacturing & Installation – The third and final phase of the L-Prize competition rewards entrants based on U.S. manufacturing, installations, and additional life cycle and operation considerations. Phase 3 will award up to two entrants from a $10,000,000 prize pool. The 2021 L-Prize competition is meant to usher in the next generation of LED lighting and has brought a few incredible design concepts to the forefront. Teaming opportunities will start in Phase 2 and will connect researchers and product developers with manufacturing partners, energy service companies, utilities, contractors, and other groups interested in the production and installation of lighting systems meeting L-Prize standards. Entrants do not need to participate in the concept phase to enter the prototype phase. Four groups won the Phase 1 of the L-Prize, Quarkstar, Orion Energy Systems, Smash the Bulb/Bridgelux, and Papaya. Each winner received $20,000 for their designs.
QuarkStar
Operating out of Las Vegas, Nev., QuarkStar sits at the bleeding edge of solid-state lighting. QuarkStar’s founders include the creator of Haitz’s Law, a former CTO of Philips Lighting, and the founder of Strategies in Light. Their L-Prize submission, Project Tango, is an innovative solid-state lighting source built on Surface Mounted Filaments™. Project Tango uses materials from QuarkStar’s L-Prize partner Nichia to overcome compromises and tradeoffs that have previously limited lighting systems. Project Tango features a networked, white-tunable luminaire (a complete electric lighting unit) based on QuarkStar’s Edge-X™ optics with class-defining uniformity and shaping in a networked, ultra-high-efficiency LED. This luminaire uses the Edge-X™ technology to provide 96 percent optical efficiency and light distribution in the smallest size system solution.
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Insight • Special Issue, 2022
