SSL Partnership between DOE and NGLIA

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Next Generation Lighting Industry Alliance (NGLIA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in February 2005 to support the development and commercialization of SSL technology. The MOA (PDF 995 KB) is designed to enhance the manufacturing and commercialization focus of the DOE SSL portfolio, and enables DOE to access the expertise of this organization of lighting manufacturers. 

NGLIA is an alliance of for-profit lighting manufacturers formed to accelerate solid-state lighting development and commercialization through government-industry partnership. Administered by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), members include: 3M, Acuity Brands Lighting, Air Products & Chemicals Inc., CAO Group Inc., Color Kinetics Inc., Corning Inc., Cree Inc., Dow Corning Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company, General Electric Company, Light Prescriptions Innovators LLC, LSI Industries, Lumination, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Inc., OSRAM Sylvania Inc., Philips Electronics North America Corporation, QuNano, and Ruud Lighting.  To learn more about the Alliance and membership, see the NGLIA website.

The Department's agreement with NGLIA details specific activities to be jointly conducted in support of DOE's SSL portfolio. The requirements of the MOA align with the directives in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 related to SSL and DOE, specifically the competitive selection of an industry alliance that represents U.S. SSL research, development, infrastructure, and manufacturing expertise. 

Alliance members provide input to shape DOE research priorities, assess progress of research activities, and update SSL technology roadmaps. The Alliance also assists DOE commercialization support activities by:

• Communicating SSL program accomplishments
• Encouraging development of metrics, codes, and standards
• Promoting demonstration of SSL technologies for general lighting applications
• Supporting DOE voluntary market-oriented programs, such as ENERGY STAR

The Alliance brings valuable industry perspective to a wide range of DOE SSL portfolio activities. In 2006-2007, the Alliance has provided input for updates to the DOE Solid-State Lighting R&D Multi-Year Program Plan and a study on Compact Fluorescent Lighting in America: Lessons Learned on the Way to Market. The Alliance also provided input to support development of draft DOE ENERGY STAR criteria for SSL products and related standards and test procedures that support the criteria.