Solid-state Long Duration Energy Storage for Industrial Applications
Summary
SCH Number
2020070093
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Solid-state Long Duration Energy Storage for Industrial Applications
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/6/2020
Document Description
Under grant Agreement EPC-19-031, the California Energy Commission will provide a grant of $1,999,787 to Antora Energy, Inc. to develop and field-test a breakthrough, long-duration, energy storage system based on thermophotovoltaic (TPV) technology. Testing, fabricating TPV material, and producing TPV devices will take place at an existing laboratory in Berkeley, California. The pilot-scale TPV facility will be built at an existing cogeneration power plant site east of the City of San Joaquin in Fresno County. Beneficiaries will include users of the new technology (eventually) and California’s investor-owned electric utilities and their customers (i.e., ratepayers); along with the public at large and the environment.
Contact Information
Name
Robin Goodhand
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Antora Energy, Inc.
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Berkeley, San Joaquin
Counties
Alameda, Fresno
Cross Streets
8105 S Lassen Ave; One Cyclotron Road
Zip
93660
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit 14, § 15301 ; Cal. Code Regs., tit 14, § 15303
Reasons for Exemption
The project involves development, testing, and pilot-scale demonstration of an energy storage system based on thermophotovoltaic (TPV) technology. The technology includes using electricity to heat graphite blocks, and then reconverting the heat to electricity at a later time. Testing, fabricating TPV material, and producing TPV devices will take place at an existing laboratory in Berkeley, California. The pilot-scale TPV facility will be built at an existing cogeneration power plant site east of the City of San Joaquin in Fresno County. The project includes a 200 sq. ft. foundation, the TPV equipment, and associated electrical connections, within the over 49-acre complex containing cogeneration, solar power, and agricultural by-products processing. Fresno County has jurisdiction over the cogeneration complex, and its latest approval for the cogeneration plant was Conditional Use Permit No. 3158 in 2006, including environmental analysis. Based on initial review, Fresno County Planning Staff has determined the proposed TPV system is incidental to the existing authorized use, with no effect on the previously analyzed environmental impacts at the cogeneration power plant site. Fresno County Planning Staff indicated (May 14, 2020) that the County's review of Antora's TPV project would be ministerial, with no additional CEQA action on its part. The Antora TPV project consists of the operation, maintenance, permitting, and/or minor alteration of existing public or private facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Therefore, this project is exempt under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301, Existing Facilities. In addition, the project includes new, small facilities and/or installation of small, new equipment in small structures. Therefore, this project is exempt under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15303, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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