1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Solar Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 . 2. Solar energy technology program (a) In general The Secretary shall carry out a solar energy program to conduct research, development, testing, and evaluation of solar energy technologies. In carrying out such program, the Secretary shall award grants under this section and sections 3, 4, and 5 on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eligible entities for each of the following purposes: (1) To improve the energy efficiency, reliability, resilience, security, and capacity of solar energy generation. (2) To optimize the design and adaptability of solar energy systems to the broadest practical range of geographic and atmospheric conditions. (3) To reduce the cost of manufacturing, installation, operation, and maintenance of solar energy systems. (4) To create and improve conversion of solar energy to useful forms. (b) Solar energy research subject areas The program established under subsection (a) shall focus on the research, development, testing, and evaluation of each of the following subject areas: (1) Photovoltaic devices and related electronic components including converters, sensors, energy monitors, communication and control equipment, and protocols. (2) Concentrated solar power, including solar thermal and concentrating solar photovoltaic technologies. (3) Low cost, high-quality solar energy systems. (4) Solar heating and cooling systems, including distributed solar-powered air conditioning. (5) Solar technology products that can be easily integrated into new buildings, existing buildings, agricultural and aquatic environments, and other infrastructure. (6) Solar technology that is resilient to extreme weather events. (7) Solar technology products integrated into transportation applications in coordination with vehicle technologies research and development activities supported by the Department of Energy. (8) Storage technologies to address the transience and intermittency of solar energy resources, including