Solar energy research and development

In this section: The term “critical material” has the meaning given the term in section 1606 of title 30. The term “economically distressed area” means an area described in section 3161(a) of this title. The term “eligible entity” means— The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25. The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 1001 of title 20. The term “mine land” means— The term “minority-serving institution” has the meaning given the term “eligible institution” in section 1067q(a) of title 20. The term “National Laboratory” has the meaning given such term in section 15801(3) of this title. The term “Native Hawaiian community-based organization” has the meaning given the term in section 7517 of title 20. The term “photovoltaic device” means— The term “program” means the program established under subsection (b)(1)(A). The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy. The term “solar energy” means— The term “territory or freely associated state” has the meaning given the term “insular area” in section 3103 of title 7. The term “Tribal energy development organization” has the meaning given the term “tribal energy development organization” in section 3501 of title 25. The term “Tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25. The Secretary shall establish a program to conduct research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of solar energy technologies in accordance with this subsection. The purposes of the program are the following: Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall establish targets for the program to address near-term (up to 2 years), mid-term (up to 7 years), and long-term (up to 15 years) challenges to the advancement of all types of solar energy systems. In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall carry out research, development, demonstration, and commercialization activities, including— The Secretary shall carry out research, development, demonstration, and commercialization activities in the following subject areas: Advanced solar energy technologies of varying scale and power production, including— Integration of solar energy technologies with— other energy technologies, including— Integrated solar energy systems that incorporate diverse— Reducing market barriers, including nonhardware and information-based barriers, to the adoption of solar energy technologies, including impacts on, or challenges relating to— In carrying out activities under the program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give priority to projects that— support the development or demonstration of projects— include business commercialization plans that have the potential for— To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate activities under the program with other relevant programs and capabilities of the Department and other Federal research programs. To the extent that funding is not otherwise available through other Federal programs or power purchase agreements, funding awarded for demonstration projects may be used for additional nontechnology costs, as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, such as engineering or feasibility studies. Not less than once every two years, the Secretary shall conduct a national solicitation for applications for demonstration projects under this section. In addition to the program activities described in paragraph (2), in carrying out the program, the Secretary shall award financial assistance to eligible entities for research, development, demonstration, and commercialization projects to advance new solar energy manufacturing technologies and techniques. In awarding grants under subparagraph (A), to the extent practicable, the Secretary shall give priority to solar energy manufacturing projects that— increase efficiency and cost effectiveness in— Not later than 3 years after December 27, 2020, and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct, and make available to the public and the relevant committees of Congress, an independent review of the progress of the grants awarded under subparagraph (A). In addition to the program activities described in paragraph (2), in carrying out the program, the Secretary shall award financial assistance to eligible entities for research, development, demonstration, and commercialization projects to create innovative and practical approaches to increase the reuse and recycling of solar energy technologies, including— The Secretary shall make available to the public and the relevant committees of Congress the results of the projects carried out through financial assistance awarded under subparagraph (A), including— In carrying out the activities authorized under this subsection, the Secretary shall give special consideration to projects that recover critical materials. In carrying out the activities authorized under this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure proper security controls are in place to protect proprietary or sensitive information, as appropriate. Not later than September 1, 2022, the Secretary shall establish a comprehensive physical property database of materials for use in solar energy technologies, which shall identify the type, quantity, country of origin, source, significant uses, projected availability, and physical properties of materials used in solar energy technologies. In establishing the database described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall coordinate with— Not later than September 1, 2022, and every 6 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the strategic vision, progress, goals, and targets of the program, including assessments of solar energy markets and manufacturing. As a part of the report described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for purposes of clause (iv), shall include a study that examines the viable market opportunities available for solar energy technology manufacturing in the United States, including— a description of— the ability to competitively manufacture solar technology in the United States, including the manufacture of— The Secretary shall coordinate the preparation of the report under subparagraph (A) with— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.