ALBANY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Momentive Performance Materials will receive $4.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to continue the development of breakthrough technology for the low cost production of light emitting diodes (LEDs) used in solid state lighting (SSL) and for increased LED light source performance. LED lights can consume 75 percent less energy and have a longer lifetime than common lighting options, but LED-based lighting is currently more expensive to produce than conventional lighting. The DOE announcement about the Momentive award was made on October 26, 2009.

“We are honored to be among the first recipients of this innovative funding program and its inspiring mission of working toward a low cost, secure and low carbon energy future for the U.S.,” said Eric Thaler, Chief Technology Officer, Momentive Performance Materials. “The grant will allow us to help develop the commercial-scale technology, processes and equipment needed for the cost-effective, mass production of energy efficient LEDs. This, in turn, should help facilitate a game-changing transition from current lighting technology to solid-state lighting in this country and the rest of the world. The transition to LED-based SSL would have enormous impact on everyday life, from substantial energy savings to revolutionary design and applications in general illumination.”

DOE has estimated that by 2025, with appropriate R&D funding, the displacement of incandescent and fluorescent lighting sources with SSL could result in a 29 percent decrease in national energy consumption for lighting. In addition to being more energy efficient, LED-based lighting is also more versatile than conventional lighting, as it can be integrated into a variety of structures, components and design elements for innovative and widespread use.

Based on Momentive’s platform technology and initiated by Momentive, the two-year energy research project brings together a team of companies that are expert in ammonothermal bulk gallium-nitride (GaN) crystal growth technology, high pressure/high temperature reactor development and LED device testing and development. Collaborating with Momentive on the award-winning project are Soraa, Inc. and Advanced Photonic Crystals, LLC. Soraa was co-founded by world-leading experts in GaN materials and devices. Advanced Photonic Crystals, LLC is an on-shore manufacturer of innovative laser and optical crystals, with expertise in high-pressure autoclave engineering and crystal growth that is being brought to bear on this project.

Momentive’s winning proposal is among the 1 percent of ambitious research projects selected to receive funding after a rigorous review by the DOE of approximately 3,700 submissions. This is another example of Momentive's heritage: almost 70 years of being first to market with technology-based solutions that positively impact and improve everyday life.

To learn more about the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) funding program, please visit www.arpa-e.energy.gov.

About Momentive Performance Materials

Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is a premier specialty materials company, providing high-technology materials solutions to the silicones, quartz and ceramics markets. The company, as a global leader with worldwide operations, has a robust product portfolio, an enduring tradition of service excellence, and industry-leading research and development capabilities. Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is controlled by an affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P. Additional information is available at www.momentive.com.