§16161 Solar and Wind Technologies

Summary

The Secretary must make and follow detailed plans to use solar and wind energy to make hydrogen. For solar, the Secretary must set up 5 demonstration projects in different regions and climates, including one at a National Laboratory or college. The Secretary must run programs to improve concentrating solar power devices so they can make electricity and hydrogen, study thermochemical ways to make hydrogen at high temperatures, build or run new concentrating solar or solar cogeneration plants that make hydrogen with or without electricity, and support existing concentrating solar power work. The Secretary must also create programs to make hydrogen onsite from photovoltaic electricity without needing new transmission lines, check the costs of small electrolysis systems, and study modular PV for hydrogen networks and security. For wind, the Secretary must make a roadmap and set up 5 diverse demonstration projects, including one at a National Laboratory or college. The Secretary must fund and support college programs for solar and wind hydrogen work, including fellowships, basic research, industry–lab–college partnerships, outreach, and placing work in diverse regions and at part B and minority institutions and at schools in States in the Department’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. The Secretary must create sabbatical, fellowship, and visiting scientist programs to share staff between labs and colleges. A report summarizing the roadmaps, progress, and recommendations must be sent to Congress within 120 days after August 8, 2005. Money as needed is authorized for fiscal years 2006 through 2020. Defined terms: concentrating solar power devices = tools that focus sunlight to help solar electricity or heat systems; photovoltaic devices = devices that turn light into electricity; part B institution and minority institution = specific types of colleges defined in title 20.