Date: Jan 01, 2009 Source: DARPA Success Stories (
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Technology and Innovation:
Under this DARPA SBIR, Energy Focus successfully upgraded their High Efficiency Distributed Lighting (HEDLight) system by implementing an innovative process to effectively apply an organometallic external barrier coating (thin film) to arc tubes. The coatings extended lamp life by preventing or delaying lamp failure by devitrification, a condition where the surface of the fused quartz develops deposits, cracks or wrinkles. The program succeeded in extending DC arc source lamp life by a factor of five, more than twice the program goal. The arc source coating technology not only reduces operational costs by extending the lifetime of lighting components, but also improves the quality of light in existing High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting systems.
The coated HEDLight systems have a lamp life of over 15,000 hours with 400 lumens of light per spot. This performance is achieved at 13 watts per spot and compares favorably to legacy incandescent lights of the same lumen output, which use 50 watts and have a life expectancy of only 4,000 hours. The lights provide 75% energy savings. The arc lamp coatings investigation was built on the success of lighting systems developed under DARPA's HEDLight program, designed to deliver ultra-efficient low-maintenance lighting systems to the Navy. That program installed 17 HID and 175 LED lighting fixtures on three ships over 26 months for a 36% savings in energy with no failures (zero maintenance)
The commanding officer of the USS Pearl Harbor reported that the Energy Focus lighting system brought "a significant improvement in overall lighting quality and brightness...It represents advances not only in improved workspace lighting...but likewise is a viable solution toward labor and cost savings efficiency." Of the more than 34 thin film material systems under investigation, at least five showed significant improvements in lamp life, lamp output or both. Breakthroughs were also made for reducing the cost of the lamp coating methods.
The improvements in output are the result of UV light directed back into the lamp for photonic absorption and re-emission at longer (red) wavelengths, further enhancing energy efficiency and color. Coated lamps using this technology are in service at the Ft. Meade commissary and are generating a continuous savings of more than $23,000 per year in combined energy and maintenance expenses. Full-scale implementation of the modified arc sources in parking lots, warehouses, retail areas and commissaries would yield significant energy and cost savings for the Navy. Incorporation of this technology into the company's commercial and military illuminator systems is already planned for 2009. Energy Focus was awarded the DARPATech 2007 Small Business Innovation Research Award for Excellence for its work on this program.
Joint Collaborations:
Energy Focus, Inc . collaborated and served as primary contractor on the initial DARPA HEDLight project . The company was also a member of a consortium for DuPont on the DARPA-funded Very High Efficiency Solar Cell (VHESC) project
Lessons Learned:
• Emphasize the alignment of development objectives with military specifications from day one. It is critical to understand the ownership and history of each requirement in addition to the requirement itself .
• Identify and involve the program executive office (PEO) that is responsible for fielding new systems in the area of interest in order to benefit from their experience.
• Identify opportunities to get feedback directly from end users, as this can be instrumental in perfecting product design
• If the product has a known commercial application, investigate requirements within the DoD to understand certification processes required to sell to military markets.
• In the SBIR Phase II contract, include a testing and evaluation task that allows organizations participating in these activities to procure prototype units.
• Costs and conditions for installing, testing and evaluating prototypes can vary by location . Obtain projected costs and detailed information for specific locations (for example, ensure that requisite components to interface with legacy systems are available).
• Engage the DARPA project manager from project inception. A manager who provides leadership and vision and is focused on
identifying and supporting technology transition activities is critical.
Economic Impact:
SBIR funding has supported the growth of efficient lighting technology from about $3 million in 2005 to about $14 million in 2008 . Approximately 50% of Energy Focus' technology development was supported by DARPA .
About the Company:
Energy Focus Inc designs, develops, manufactures and markets lighting systems for wide-ranging uses in both the general commercial and the pool and spa lighting markets. The company's headquarters are in Solon, Ohio, with additional offices in California, the United Kingdom and Germany
