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42 USC § 16234 - Concentrating solar power research program 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s16234"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 16234 - Concentrating solar power research program"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "16234"
section_name: "Concentrating solar power research program"
chapter_number: 149
chapter_name: "NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY AND PROGRAMS"
subchapter_number: "IX"
subchapter_name: "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "Renewable Energy"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 934, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 872.)"
---

# § 16234. Concentrating solar power research program

**(a)** **In general** 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)** **Administration** 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)** **Assessment** 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)** **Report** August 8, 2005

Not later than 5 years after , 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.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 934, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 872.)