Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§9003 Research and development

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 98— - OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › § 9003

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must start new research or speed up existing work where missing knowledge slows the development of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems. The Secretary must run tests, share data and materials to help developers with design work under section 9004, and study technical topics like platform-to-cold-water-pipe interfaces, pipe deployment, heat exchangers, control-system simulation, stationkeeping, and energy delivery (for example, power cables). The Secretary must also ask for and review written proposals for reasonable new or improved OTEC technologies.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §9003

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall initiate research or accelerate existing research in areas in which the lack of knowledge limits development of ocean thermal energy conversion systems in order to achieve the purposes of this chapter.

(b)The Secretary shall conduct evaluations, arrange for tests, and disseminate to developers information, data, and materials necessary to support the design efforts undertaken pursuant to section 9004 of this title. Specific technical areas to be addressed shall include, but not be limited to—

(1)interface requirements between the platform and cold water pipe;

(2)cold water pipe deployment techniques;

(3)heat exchangers;

(4)control system simulation;

(5)stationkeeping requirements; and

(6)energy delivery systems, such as electric cable or energy product transport.

(c)The Secretary shall, for the purpose of performing his responsibilities pursuant to this chapter, solicit proposals and evaluate any reasonable new or improved technology, a description of which is submitted to the Secretary in writing, which could lead or contribute to the development of ocean thermal energy conversion system technology.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 9003

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73