§ 16234. Concentrating solar power research program

• (a) The Secretary shall conduct a program of research and development to evaluate the potential for concentrating solar power for hydrogen production, including cogeneration approaches for both hydrogen and electricity.
• (b) The program shall take advantage of existing facilities to the extent practicable and shall include—
  • (1) development of optimized technologies that are common to both electricity and hydrogen production;
  • (2) evaluation of thermochemical cycles for hydrogen production at the temperatures attainable with concentrating solar power;
  • (3) evaluation of materials issues for the thermochemical cycles described in paragraph (2);
  • (4) cogeneration of solar thermal electric power and photo-synthetic-based hydrogen production;
  • (5) system architectures and economics studies; and
  • (6) coordination with activities under the Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project established under part B of subchapter VI on high temperature materials, thermochemical cycles, and economic issues.
• (c) In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall—
  • (1) assess conflicting guidance on the economic potential of concentrating solar power for electricity production received from the National Research Council in the report entitled “Renewable Power Pathways: A Review of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Programs” and dated 2000 and subsequent reviews of that report funded by the Department; and
  • (2) provide an assessment of the potential impact of technology used to concentrate solar power for electricity before, or concurrent with, submission of the budget for fiscal year 2008.
• (d) Not later than 5 years after August 8, 2005 , the Secretary shall provide to Congress a report on the economic and technical potential for electricity or hydrogen production, with or without cogeneration, with concentrating solar power, including the economic and technical feasibility of potential construction of a pilot demonstration facility suitable for commercial production of electricity or hydrogen from concentrating solar power.