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American-Made Challenges

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Lighting Prize (L-Prize)

The L-Prize will advance the state-of-the-art in LED lighting.

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prize:
$12.2 Million Total Prize Pool

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Summary
Timeline
Updates34
Forum52
Teams313
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Summary

The Lighting Prize (L-Prize) is designed to advance the U.S. clean energy economy for next-generation LED lighting, encouraging innovators to engage in advanced lighting system development that leads to transformative designs, products, and impact. The L-Prize will reward innovations that move rapidly to improve lighting performance, resulting in energy, emissions, and cost savings for American businesses and consumers. The competition will award a total of $12.2 million in cash prizes across three distinct phases: Concept, Prototype, and Manufacturing and Installation. 

Advanced interoperable lighting systems have the potential to better manage lighting energy use, integrate with other building systems, streamline maintenance and operations, and even respond to electric grid signals, increasing the value and resiliency of buildings. The L-Prize seeks to unlock that additional potential to combine high-luminaire efficacy with exceptional lighting quality, data-driven control and functionality, and sustainable design and construction for the future of illumination in commercial and institutional buildings. In addition to these technical innovations, the L-Prize also prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in how luminaires or lighting systems can benefit communities that have been historically disadvantaged.

The L-Prize targets commercial sector lighting, which accounts for about 36% of national lighting energy use, and encourages lighting innovators to design lighting systems with breakthrough energy efficiency, quality, functionality, and sustainability. A full realization of SSL technology potential envisions LED lighting products manufactured with significant domestic materials, while demonstrating exceptional energy efficiency, data connectivity, control capabilities, visual quality, and design for recycling and remanufacturing.

DOE’s Building Technologies Office invites lighting innovators to participate in this new competition to bring tomorrow’s lighting into today.

Winning systems must innovate and demonstrate exceptional achievement across all areas.

 

 

Prize Structure

The L-Prize will award a total of $12.2 million in cash prizes across three distinct phases:

  1. The Concept Phase invites innovative concept proposals from potential competitors. This phase is completed.
  2. The Prototype Phase seeks physical prototype systems, emphasizing technological innovation and challenging entrants to think outside standard forms, materials, and price points of commercially available products.
  3. The Manufacturing and Installation Phase will reward production and installation of real products meeting the L-Prize technical requirements.

Participation in initial phases is not required to be eligible for subsequent phases. In addition, teaming opportunities will connect potential entrants with manufacturing partners, materials or component suppliers, end-user installation host sites, utilities, energy service companies, installation contractors, and others interested in teaming with or supporting L-Prize teams in the Manufacturing and Installation Phase of the competition.

 


Please review the official rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.

If you want to receive updates on the prize, please subscribe by clicking the Follow button at the top of the webpage. Questions can be sent directly to  or posted in the Forum tab, so that others who have the same questions will be able to see the answers. 

 

Timeline

Challenge Timeline

start
May 16, 2021, 4 a.m. PDT
Important Notice
Please see Rules document for detailed timeline: https://americanmadechallenges.org/lprize/docs/L-Prize_Official_Rules.pdf
May 17, 2021, 6 a.m. PDT
Enter
Concept Phase Open for Submissions
May 17, 2021, 6:01 a.m. PDT
Date Launched
May 17, 2021, 6:05 a.m. PDT
Comment Period Opens
Comment Period Opens for 60 days. Accepting comments on proposed Prototype Phase and Manufacturing and Installation Phase requirements and timelines. Comment Form located here: https://www.herox.com/LPrize/resource/726
June 10, 2021, 9 a.m. PDT
Concept Phase Rules Webinar
Please register for the Concept Phase Rules Webinar on June 10th at 12 PM Eastern Time. Register here: https://nrel.webex.com/nrel/onstage/g.php?MTID=e824f82fcb7c8092255e40c2ebd268baf
Aug. 13, 2021, 2 p.m. PDT
Comment Period Closes
Comment Period Closes. Comments to proposed Prototype Phase and Manufacturing and Installation Phase requirements and timelines due.
Nov. 19, 2021, 2 p.m. PST
Submission Deadline
Concept Phase Closes for Submissions at 5 PM Eastern Time.
Nov. 20, 2021, 6 a.m. PST
Judging
Expert Reviewing for Concept Phase Opens
Jan. 5, 2022, 2 p.m. PST
Judging Closed
Expert Reviewing for Concept Phase Closes
Feb. 3, 2022, 8:45 a.m. PST
Won
Concept Phase Winners Announced during the Solid State Lighting Workshop. Register here: https://doessl2022.meetingreimagined.com/agenda/
June 30, 2022, 7 a.m. PDT
Enter
Prototype Phase Opens for Submissions. Must complete the Intent to Submit Form on HeroX to be eligible for the Prototype Phase.
June 30, 2022, 7:10 a.m. PDT
Teaming Request for Information Opens
Teaming Request for Information opens and remains open until the end of the L-Prize competition. Find information on the Teaming RFI here: https://www.herox.com/LPrize/resource/1027

Find the Response Form here: https://www.herox.com/LPrize/resource/1028
June 30, 2022, 7:11 a.m. PDT
Comment Period Opens
Accepting comments on proposed Manufacturing and Installation Phase requirements and timelines through January 13, 2023. Comment Form located here: https://www.herox.com/LPrize/resource/726
Aug. 3, 2022, 10 a.m. PDT
Prototype Phase Rules Webinar
Please register for the Prototype Phase Rules Webinar on August 3 at 1 PM Eastern Time. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RRqUnXDcRneAR6yDyHIs5g
Aug. 17, 2022, 10 a.m. PDT
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Requirements and Opportunities Webinar
Please register for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Webinar on August 17th at 1 pm ET. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u72dnobrTYuo9fj9zHsSbw
Aug. 17, 2022, 11 a.m. PDT
Product Life Cycle and Sustainability: Requirements and Opportunities Webinar
Please register for the Product Life Cycle and Sustainability Webinar on August 17th at 2 pm ET. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5PZE0d8yRqKh7eNrCavaXw
Jan. 13, 2023, 2 p.m. PST
Submission Deadline
Prototype Phase Intent to Submit Form Deadline.
Prototype Phase Intent to Submit form due.
Jan. 13, 2023, 2:05 p.m. PST
Comment Period Closes
Comments to proposed Manufacturing and Installation Phase requirements and timelines due. Form found here: https://www.herox.com/LPrize/resource/726.
Jan. 22, 2023, 11 p.m. PST
Enter
Prototype Phase Submission Opens. Luminaire Track and Connected Systems Track submission forms are available to teams who submitted an Intent to Submit and were confirmed eligible. Please email LPrize@nrel.gov if you have questions.
May 29, 2023, 12:10 p.m. PDT
You are here
June 1, 2023, 2 p.m. PDT
Submission Deadline
Prototype Phase Closes for Submissions at 5 PM Eastern Time.
June 1, 2023, 4 p.m. PDT
Judging
Expert Reviewing for Prototype Phase Opens
Aug. 30, 2023, 2 p.m. PDT
Judging Closed
Expert Reviewing for Prototype Phase Closes
Oct. 11, 2023, 8 a.m. PDT
Prototype Phase Winner Announcement
Anticipated Prototype Phase Winners Announced
Dec. 15, 2023, 6 a.m. PST
Manufacturing and Installation Phase Opens
Anticipated Manufacturing and Installation Phase Opens for Submission
April 16, 2025, 2 p.m. PDT
Manufacturing and Installation Phase Closes
Anticipated Manufacturing and Installation Phase Closes for Submission at 5 PM Eastern Time.
April 17, 2025, 6 a.m. PDT
Manufacturing and Installation Phase Judging Opens
Anticipated Expert Reviewing for Manufacturing and Installation Phase Opens
Aug. 29, 2025, 5 p.m. PDT
Important Notice
Please see Rules document for detailed timeline: https://americanmadechallenges.org/lprize/docs/L-Prize_Official_Rules.pdf
Sept. 17, 2025, 2 p.m. PDT
Manufacturing and Installation Phase Judging Closes
Anticipated Expert Reviewing for Manufacturing and Installation Phase Closes
finish
Oct. 15, 2025, 8 a.m. PDT
Manufacturing and Installation Phase Winners Announced
Anticipated Manufacturing and Installation Phase Winners Announced
Updates34

Challenge Updates

L-Prize Prototype Phase Submission Deadline Extended

March 28, 2023, 8:25 a.m. PDT by Wendy Graves

The deadline for L-Prize Prototype Phase entry submissions – for both the luminaire track and connected systems track – has been extended until June 1, 2023. Teams who submitted Intent to Submit forms and have been confirmed as eligible for the Prototype Phase will have until June 1, 2023 to submit their luminaire or connected system entries.


L-Prize Deadlines on January 13

Jan. 4, 2023, 11:46 a.m. PST by Wendy Graves

Two L-Prize deadlines are approaching on January 13:

  1. Intents to submit for the L-Prize Prototype Phase are due. The Prototype Phase seeks physical prototype systems, emphasizing technological innovation and challenging entrants to think outside standard forms, materials, and price points of commercially available products. Register on the L-Prize HeroX platform, click on “Solve this Challenge,” accept the competitor agreement, then click on “Begin Entry” and complete the Intent to Submit form, providing a brief description of your intended luminaire or connected system.
  2. The public comment period to provide inputs on the Manufacturing and Installation Phase requirements is closing. The final phase of the L-Prize will reward production and installation of real products meeting the L-Prize technical requirements. Complete the Comment Form and share your input.

Public Comment Period Closing January 13: L-Prize Manufacturing and Installation Phase Requirements

Dec. 15, 2022, 1:31 p.m. PST by Wendy Graves

The final phase of the L-Prize will reward production and installation of real products meeting the L-Prize technical requirements. DOE will evaluate entries on technical performance and innovation in addition to U.S. manufacturing content, deployment strategy, and innovative installation models. Up to four competitors will share an award of $10 million. The public comment period to provide inputs on the Manufacturing and Installation Phase requirements closes on January 13. Complete the Comment Form on the L-Prize website and share your input.


L-Prize Prototype Phase Intents Due January 13

Dec. 9, 2022, 8:28 a.m. PST by Wendy Graves

Intents to submit are due January 13, 2023, for the L-Prize Prototype Phase. The Prototype Phase has two tracks, one for luminaires and the other for connected systems, and up to six winners will split a prize pool of $2 million. There’s still time to enter! 

Make sure you’re registered on the L-Prize HeroX platform. Click on “Solve this Challenge” and accept the competitor agreement in order to access the full capabilities of the website. Then click on “Begin Entry” and complete the Intent to Submit form, providing a brief description of your intended luminaire or connected system. The complete submission package is due Monday, May 1, 2023. Check out the L-Prize Official Rules for more details.


LEDs Magazine Article: L-Prize Pathways to Win

Nov. 16, 2022, 12:37 p.m. PST by Wendy Graves

Aesthetics. Form factor. DEI. Sustainability. The L-Prize offers many pathways to enter and many ways to earn points for groundbreaking lighting innovations. In a new LEDs Magazine article, PNNL engineer and L-Prize team member Gabe Arnold explains L-Prize Prototype Phase points opportunities that invite entrants to address some of the most pressing challenges for the lighting industry.


Forum52
Teams313
Entries
Resources
FAQ