Products chosen for the demonstration projects are selected based on their potential to demonstrate the advanced state of the art in LED technology, while being economically sound investments for the facility owner.

The demonstration phases are initial screening; participant team identification; laboratory testing; installation, evaluation and, finally, results reporting.

DOE does not provide any financial support for GATEWAY demonstrations. DOE only provides technical support for GATEWAY demonstrations through independent product testing, interpretation of test and demonstration results, assistance in coordination of projects and preparation of reports.

Here are a few examples of GATEWAY projects:

LED Roadway Lighting: I-35W Bridge, Minneapolis

The eight-lane, steel truss arch bridge that replaced the 35W Mississippi River bridge (yes, the one that collapsed in Minneapolis Aug. 1, 2007) now features LED roadway lighting on the main span. DOE is conducting a three-year study on how the lighting holds up in this environment. Phase 1 was completed in September 2008. Phase 2 involves long-term monitoring of the LEDs to yield information on lumen depreciation, physical effects and performance impacts over time.

LED Street Lighting, Oakland, Calif.
Oakland wanted to assess the energy, economic, and safety impacts of replacing high-pressure sodium street lights with LED luminaires. This project involved installation of 15 LED street lights, 10 on the LED-only street and five on the LED/HPS street.

LED Street Lighting, San Francisco

In the Sunset District of San Francisco, LED street lights of four manufacturers were installed on four public avenues to replace 100-watt nominal high-pressure sodium luminaires, independently demonstrating the performance of a number of currently available products in one specific application.