42 U.S.C. § 12003 : US Code - Section 12003: National goals and multi-year funding for Federal wind, photovoltaics, and solar thermal programs

Search 42 U.S.C. § 12003 : US Code - Section 12003: National goals and multi-year funding for Federal wind, photovoltaics, and solar thermal programs

(a) National goals
The following are declared to be the national goals for the wind,
photovoltaics, and solar thermal energy programs being carried out
by the Secretary:
(1) Wind
(A) In general, the goals for the Wind Energy Research Program
include improving design methodologies and developing more
reliable and efficient wind turbines to increase the cost
competitiveness of wind energy. Research efforts shall emphasize -

(i) activities that address near-term technical problems and
assist private sector exploitation of market opportunities of
the wind energy industry;
(ii) developing technologies such as advanced airfoils and
variable speed generators to increase wind turbine output and
reduce maintenance costs by decreasing structural stress and
fatigue;
(iii) increasing the basic knowledge of aerodynamics,
structural dynamics, fatigue, and electrical systems
interactions as applied to wind energy technology; and
(iv) improving the compatibility of electricity produced from
wind farms with conventional utility needs.
(B) Specific goals for the Wind Energy Research Program shall
be to -
(i) reduce average wind energy costs to 3 to 5 cents per
kilowatt hour by 1995;
(ii) reduce capital costs of new wind energy systems to $500
to $750 per kilowatt of installed capacity by 1995;
(iii) reduce operation and maintenance costs for wind energy
systems to less than one cent per kilowatt hour by 1995; and
(iv) increase capacity factors for new wind energy systems to
25 to 35 percent by 1995.
(2) Photovoltaics
(A) In general, the goals of the Photovoltaic Energy Systems
Program shall include improving the reliability and conversion
efficiencies of and lowering the costs of photovoltaic
conversion. Research efforts shall emphasize advancements in the
performance, stability, and durability of photovoltaic materials.
(B) Specific goals of the Photovoltaic Energy Systems Program
shall be to -
(i) improve operational reliability of photovoltaic modules
to 30 years by 1995;
(ii) increase photovoltaic conversion efficiencies by 20
percent by 1995;
(iii) decrease new photovoltaic module direct manufacturing
costs to $800 per kilowatt by 1995; and
(iv) increase cost efficiency of photovoltaic power
production to 10 cents per kilowatt hour by 1995.
(3) Solar thermal
(A) In general, the goal of the Solar Thermal Energy Systems
Program shall be to advance research and development to a point
where solar thermal technology is cost-competitive with
conventional energy sources, and to promote the integration of
this technology into the production of industrial process heat
and the conventional utility network. Research and development
shall emphasize development of a thermal storage technology to
provide capacity for shifting power to periods of demand when
full insolation is not available; improvement in receivers,
energy conversion devices, and innovative concentrators using
stretch membranes, lenses, and other materials; and exploration
of advanced manufacturing techniques.
(B) Specific goals of the Solar Thermal Energy Systems Program
shall be to -
(i) reduce solar thermal costs for industrial process heat to
$9.00 per million Btu by 1995; and
(ii) reduce average solar thermal costs for electricity to 4
to 5 cents per kilowatt hour by 1995.
(4) Alcohol from biomass
(A) In general, the goal of the Alcohol From Biomass Program
shall be to advance research and development to a point where
alcohol from biomass technology is cost-competitive with
conventional hydrocarbon transportation fuels, and to promote the
integration of this technology into the transportation fuel
sector of the economy.
(B)(i) Specific goals for producing ethanol from biomass shall
be to -
(I) reduce the cost of alcohol to 70 cents per gallon;
(II) improve the overall biomass carbohydrate conversion
efficiency to 91 percent;
(III) reduce the capital cost component of the cost of
alcohol to 23 cents per gallon; and
(IV) reduce the operating and maintenance component of the
cost of alcohol to 47 cents per gallon.
(ii) Specific goals for producing methanol from biomass shall
be to -
(I) reduce the cost of alcohol to 47 cents per gallon; and
(II) reduce the capital component of the cost of alcohol to
16 cents per gallon.
(5) Other technologies
The Secretary shall submit to the Congress, as part of the
first report submitted under section 12006 of this title,
recommendations for specific cost goals and other pertinent goals
for 1995 for Department of Energy research, development, and
demonstration programs in Biofuels Energy Systems, Biodiesel
Energy Systems, Hydrogen Energy Systems, Solar Buildings Energy
Systems, Ocean Energy Systems, Geothermal Energy Systems, Low-
Head Hydro, and Energy Storage Systems.
(b) Amended goals
Whenever the Secretary determines that any of the goals
established under this section is no longer appropriate, the
Secretary shall notify Congress, as part of a report submitted
under section 12006 of this title, of the reason for the
determination and provide an amended goal that is consistent with
the purpose stated in section 12001(b) of this title.
(c) Authorizations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the
following renewable energy research, development, and demonstration
programs: the Wind Energy Research Program, the Photovoltaic Energy
Systems Program, the Solar Thermal Energy Systems Program, the
Biofuels Energy Systems Program, the Hydrogen Energy Systems
Program, the Solar Buildings Energy Systems Program, the Ocean
Energy Systems Program, and the Geothermal Energy Systems Program -

(1) not to exceed $113,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, of which -

(A) not to exceed $39,000,000 shall be available for the
Photovoltaic Energy Systems Program;
(B) not to exceed $19,000,000 shall be available for the
Geothermal Energy Systems Program; and
(C) not to exceed $4,000,000 shall be available for the
Hydrogen Energy Systems Program; and
(2) not to exceed $121,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, of which -

(A) not to exceed $40,000,000 shall be available for the
Photovoltaic Energy Systems Program;
(B) not to exceed $20,500,000 shall be available for the
Geothermal Energy Systems Program; and
(C) not to exceed $5,000,000 shall be available for the
Hydrogen Energy Systems Program.
Each of the President's annual budget requests submitted to
Congress after December 11, 1989, shall include as separate line
items each of the categories of renewable energy programs described
in this subsection.