Demonstrating Code-compliant Energy Storage Systems and Their Capabilities for Grid Harmonization

2 Documents in Project

Summary

SCH Number
2020080149
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Demonstrating Code-compliant Energy Storage Systems and Their Capabilities for Grid Harmonization
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/9/2024
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to install and evaluate the performance of commercially available energy storage in new construction and existing single-family homes and affordable homes, assess the values of energy storage for the customer, and determine whether any future changes would be required to Title 24 building code. Title 24 recently requires solar on all new construction. It is anticipated that developers will be offering energy storage to customers and customers may be asking for energy storage to enable them to reduce electricity costs and provide backup power during a grid outage. This project will install and connect energy storage units to solar panels being installed by developers or homeowners at approximately 15 new and existing homes, which are built according to Title 24 building code and evaluate the performance of the energy storage for at least one year. This project will provide benefits for the homeowners, multifamily affordable housing owners and tenants, the utility grid, and IOU ratepayers.

Contact Information

Name
Sebastian Ruiz
Agency Name
CEC
Job Title
Energy Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Davis, San Diego
Counties
Humboldt, San Diego, Yolo
Regions
Northern California, Southern California
Cross Streets
Hayes Road
Zip
95519
Other Location Info
Beryl St. San Diego 92109 Oak Ave. Davis 95615

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
California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301 ("Existing Facilities") provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. The project will install lithium - ion (Li-ion) battery energy storage units at approximately 15 fully developed single family homes and two affordable homes with existing rooftop solar photovoltaic panels. Installation will require minor alterations to the interior or the exterior of the garages of homes with no expansion of footprint. Specifically, containerized energy storage units will be installed near the electrical panel of each home and connected to the home's rooftop solar. For these reasons, the project will have no significant environmental impact and falls under section 15301. Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) provides that projects which consist of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. The battery energy storage units described above are commercially available, residentially sized Li-ion batteries. Specifically, the power and energy capacities of the batteries will be approximately 5-7 kW and 10-13 kWh, respectively. The commercially available battery units likely to be used for this project include Enphase IQ10, LG Chem RESU 10H/SolarEdge StorEdge, Tesla Powerwall FranklinWH and Sol-Ark. The dimensions (L x W x D) of the combined battery and inverter enclosure are approximately 43in x 27 in x 13 in for the Enphase IQ 10 unit. The dimensions of the battery and inverter enclosures are approximately 36 in x 30 in x 8.5 in, and approximately 37 in x 12.5 in x 7.2 in for LG Chem/SolarEdge unit. The dimensions of the combined battery and inverter enclosures are approximately 46 in x 30 in x 6.5 in for Tesla unit. The dimensions of the battery enclosures are approximately 46 in x 30 in x 12 in for the FranklinWH unit. The dimensions of the battery and inverter enclosures are approximately 28 in x 18 in x 9 in for the Sol-Ark inverter, and approximately 36 in x 29 in x 16 in for the Homegrid battery unit. For these reasons, the project will have no significant environmental impact and falls under section 15303.

Attachments

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