---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16234"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16234"
heading: "Concentrating solar power research program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16234"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter IX — Research and Development"
  - "Part C — Renewable Energy"
---

# §16234. Concentrating solar power research program

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) 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)](#b-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](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) 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](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) 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](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) of Energy’s Renewable Energy Programs” and dated 2000 and subsequent reviews of that report funded by the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1); 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—** Not later than 5 years after August 8, 2005, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) 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](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) of a pilot demonstration facility suitable for commercial production of electricity or hydrogen from concentrating solar power.

## Source credit

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