The joint international project between Niigata University (Japan) and the Korea Institute of Energy Research, KIER (Korea) on "Solar Demonstration of Water-Splitting Reactor using Ceramic Foam Device" has two goals. (1) Develop a solar reactor using reactive cerium oxide foam devices for high-temperature two-step thermochemical water-splitting cycle. (2) Test its performance under various operational methods using a 40 kW(th) solar furnace driven by natural solar energy. The reactive CeO2/MPSZ (MgO partially stabilized zirconia) foam device for two-step water-splitting was developed and prepared by Niigata University/Japan; it involves coating an inert zirconia foam matrix with reactive CeO2. In this paper, highly reactive CeO2 particles were used the redox material in CeO2/MPSZ foam devices to investigate the use of solar energy for hydrogen production. The solar-driven thermochemical two-step water-splitting cycle was demonstrated using the 40 kWth KIER solar furnace in Korea combined with the CeO2/MPSZ foam device. At the center of the foam device, temperatures were 1500 degrees C-1600 degrees C during the thermal reduction step and 600 degrees C-1100 degrees C during the subsequent water decomposition step. Hydrogen was successfully produced from the CeO2/MPSZ foam device, and profiles for hydrogen production and CeO2 conversion indicated definitely improved operations compared to earlier studies. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.