Ionocaloric Heat Pumps for Zero-GWP Heating
Summary
SCH Number
2024050734
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Ionocaloric Heat Pumps for Zero-GWP Heating
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/16/2024
Document Description
Calion Technologies, Inc. Proposed resolution approving agreement EPC-23-030 with Calion Technologies, Inc. for a $1,500,000.00 grant to develop a non-vapor compression, ionocaloric heat pump as a heating solution for commercial buildings, and adopting staff’s determination that this project is exempt from CEQA. This laboratory-based project will develop a 5 kW bench top prototype ionocaloric heat pump with 40 kWh of integrated thermal storage.
Contact Information
Name
Jeanie Mar
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Associate Energy Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Berkeley
Counties
Alameda
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Cross Streets
McMillian Rd and Lawrence Rd
Zip
94720
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301
Reasons for Exemption
California Code Regulations, title 14, section 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of existing or former use, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This project involves operating or conducting lab work and creating a prototype heat pump at an existing facility, with no expansion of capacity. This lab work is at an existing, developed site on land that is not environmentally sensitive. No historical resources or buildings will be affected. Noise and odors will not be generated by this activity in excess of existing permitted amounts. The lab work will not increase traffic to these sites and will not require permits for air, water, conditional use, building expansion, hazardous waste, or rezoning. Therefore, the project is exempt from CEQA under section 15301.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
California Code Regulations, title 14, section 15306 provides that projects which consists of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project involves basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in serious or major disturbance to an environmental source. This project includes mechanical design studies and engineering analyses of ionocaloric heat pump designs. Prototype designs and development will be lab tested in a controlled research laboratory specifically designed for the purpose of testing industrial equipment. This work will not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. Therefore, the project is exempt from CEQA under Section 15306.
This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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