7 June 2011

DOE visits Optogan in St Petersburg to discuss US–Russian solid-state lighting projects  

A US delegation headed by Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited the LED production plant in St Petersburg, Russia of European LED chip and luminaire maker Optogan.

Founded in Helsinki, Finland in 2004 by Russian entrepreneurs and scientists from Ioffe Institute in St Petersburg, Optogan is a vertically integrated develoer and manufacturer of HB-LEDs for applications including solid-state lighting. In addition to having an R&D facility in Helsinki, since founding Optogan GmbH in Germany in 2005 it has established epitaxy and chip R&D plus a pilot line in Dortmund and, last year, its Fab1 chip fabrication plant in Landshut. Also, after founding CJSC Optogan in Russia in 2009, in May 2010 it acquired an industrial facility in St Petersburg, where it has established LED component and luminaire production lines.

Picture: US Energy Secretary Steven Chu visiting Optogan’s LED plant in St Petersburg.

Optogan says that Steven Chu, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997, is a recognized expert in the development of energy-efficient technologies, having dedicated his scientific career to solving energy problems, global warming and developing alternative and renewable energy. After graduating from the University of California Berkeley with a PhD. in Physics, he directed the National Laboratory in Berkeley in developing alternative and renewable energy sources. As well as receiving honorary degrees from 10 universities, Chu is also member of the US National Academy of Sciences.

The aim of the official visit of the US delegation to Russia was to become acquainted with Russian industry innovation and to search for possible ways to implement joint projects in energy and energy efficiency. Mutual projects were discussed within the Working Group on Energy and Environment — a bilateral US–Russian presidential commission of Steven Chu and Russia’s Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko. The Working Group engaged in developing and strengthening bilateral relations between the countries and increasing their cooperation on energy efficiency. 

At the Optogan plant the US delegation was shown LED production, as well as precision equipment for creating energy-efficient solid-state lighting solutions. Further plans to launch the second and third stages of production, as well as the launch of Optogan into international markets, were also presented. 

“The reformation of the energy system of a country cannot happen without the alignment of international experts, the exchange of information on the leading technologies and global cooperation,” commented Maxim Odnoblyudov, president of Optogan Group. “The fact that we have the opportunity to work hand in hand with the leading scientists of energy-efficient technologies is a success for Russia and for our company,” he adds. 

“Solid-state lighting is the energy-efficient solution of the future, with a convincing global potential,” commented Chu. “Optogan has a great opportunity for joint projects and cooperation with American business partners.”

See related items:

Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs visits Optogan in St Petersburg

Russian President visits Optogan’s St Petersburg plant

Optogan opens largest LED plant in Eastern Europe

Tags: Optogan GaN LEDs

Visit: www.optogan.com