--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16161" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "16161" heading: "Solar and wind technologies" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16161" units: - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs" - "Subchapter VIII — Hydrogen" --- # §16161. Solar and wind technologies - (a) **Solar energy technologies—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall— - (1) prepare a detailed roadmap for carrying out the provisions in this subchapter related to solar energy technologies and for implementing the recommendations related to solar energy technologies that are included in the report transmitted under [subsection (e)](#e); - (2) provide for the establishment of 5 [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) in geographic areas that are regionally and climatically diverse to demonstrate the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) at solar energy facilities, including one demonstration [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) at a [National Laboratory](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3) or [institution of higher education](/usc/42/15801.md?p=2-A); - (3) establish a program— - (A) to develop optimized concentrating solar power devices that may be used for the production of both electricity and [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1); and - (B) to evaluate the use of thermochemical cycles for [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) production at the temperatures attainable with concentrating solar power devices; - (4) coordinate with activities sponsored by the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1)’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology on high-temperature materials, thermochemical cycles, and economic issues related to solar energy; - (5) provide for the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) and operation of new concentrating solar power devices or solar power cogeneration facilities that produce [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) either concurrently with, or independently of, the production of electricity; - (6) support existing facilities and programs of study related to concentrating solar power devices; and - (7) establish a program— - (A) to develop methods that use electricity from photovoltaic devices for the onsite production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1), such that no intermediate transmission or distribution [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4) is required or used and future demand growth may be accommodated; - (B) to evaluate the economics of small-scale electrolysis for [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) production; and - (C) to study the potential of modular photovoltaic devices for the development of a [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4), the security implications of a [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4), and the benefits potentially derived from a [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4). - (b) **Wind energy technologies—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall— - (1) prepare a detailed roadmap for carrying out the provisions in this subchapter related to wind energy technologies and for implementing the recommendations related to wind energy technologies that are included in the report transmitted under [subsection (e)](#e); and - (2) provide for the establishment of 5 [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) in geographic areas that are regionally and climatically diverse to demonstrate the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) at existing wind energy facilities, including one demonstration [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) at a [National Laboratory](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3) or [institution of higher education](/usc/42/15801.md?p=2-A). - (c) **Program support—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall support programs at institutions of higher education for the development of solar energy technologies and wind energy technologies for the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1). The programs supported under this subsection shall— - (1) enhance fellowship and faculty assistance programs; - (2) provide support for fundamental research; - (3) encourage collaborative research among industry, [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3), and institutions of higher education; - (4) support communication and outreach; and - (5) to the greatest extent possible— - (A) be located in geographic areas that are regionally and climatically diverse; and - (B) be located at part B institutions, minority institutions, and institutions of higher education located in [States](/usc/42/15951.md?p=b-2) participating in the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1). - (d) **Institutions of higher education and National Laboratory interactions—** In conjunction with the programs supported under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall develop sabbatical, fellowship, and visiting scientist programs to encourage [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3) and institutions of higher education to share and exchange personnel. - (e) **Report—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall transmit to the Congress not later than 120 days after August 8, 2005, a report containing detailed summaries of the roadmaps prepared under subsections [(a)(1)](#a-1) and [(b)(1)](#b-1), descriptions of the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4)’s progress in establishing the [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) and other programs required under this section, and recommendations for promoting the availability of advanced solar and wind energy technologies for the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1). - (f) **Definitions—** For purposes of this section— - (1) the term “concentrating solar power devices” means devices that concentrate the power of the sun by reflection or refraction to improve the efficiency of a photovoltaic or thermal generation process; - (2) the term “minority institution” has the meaning given to that term in [section 1067k of title 20](/usc/20/1067k.md); - (3) the term “part B institution” has the meaning given to that term in [section 1061 of title 20](/usc/20/1061.md); and - (4) the term “photovoltaic devices” means devices that convert light directly into electricity through a solid-[state](/usc/42/15951.md?p=b-2), semiconductor process. - (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for carrying out the activities under this section for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2020. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 109–58, title VIII, § 812, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 853.)