Nanogrid HVAC Hub
Summary
SCH Number
2025010897
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Nanogrid HVAC Hub
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/28/2025
Document Description
The purpose of this Agreement is to fund the development and demonstration of a DC HVAC Nanogrid Hub for Commercial Applications which includes: a DC connected packaged rooftop air conditioner & heat pump with a capacity of 12.5 tons, a thermal energy storage device in the form of ice tank(s), an on-site PV array interfaced to the DC link through a string optimizer, a battery energy storage device interfaced to the DC-link using a DC-DC converter, and a step-down converter to generate a 48V interface for auxiliary loads like lighting, kitchen loads, tools, and electronics. The DC HVAC Nanogrid Hub connects to a 208V three-phase AC panel and includes a grid-side disconnect device for protection and islanding. A bidirectional interface fed from the 208V panel generates a regulated DC bus for the components.
Contact Information
Name
Adel Suleiman
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Sr. Electrical Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Fiela Vu
Agency Name
Lincus, Inc.
Job Title
Administrator
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
San Bernardino
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Chandler Place, S. E St.
Zip
92408
State Highways
215
Other Location Info
399 Chandler Place
San Bernardino
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301 and 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15301 provides that the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing structures, facilities, mechanical equipment or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project involves a minor alteration of existing facilities and mechanical equipment at a site either in Ventura or San Bernardino.
The planned alterations will replace a HVAC system with an air conditioner, heat pump, and components such as a battery storage system, thermal energy storage system, and the plumbing to support the system. There isnegligible or expansion of existing use as it will be used to heat and cool the same facility. There will be a minor addition of a thermal energy storage device (TES) that is between 6’x6.5’x4 and 7.5’x7.5’x11 (L x W x H). This addition is on the site, at the side of the existing facility.
Solar panels will also be added. The solar panels will be on the roof or over the parking lot. It will only cover land already in use by the facility. Some minor trenching may be required to install the necessary pipelines to support the TES. All required permits for installation and operation of the system will be obtained prior to system installation and demonstration. The demonstration will not have a significant impact on local air quality, noise, or traffic. For these reasons, the project will have a negligible or no expansion of use and not have a significant effect on the environment and falls under the categorical exemption listed in 14 C.C.R. § 15301.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15302 provides an exemption where the project involved consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. This project involved the replacement of existing mechanical equipment at an existing facility in either Ventura or San Bernardino. The equipment to be replaced is an old HVAC system with a new more energy efficient air conditioner and heat pump as well as a nanogrid in order to run the equipment with renewable energy. The new equipment will be located on the same site as the equipment replaced, at a facility in either Ventura or San Bernardino, and have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the equipment replaced. For these reasons, the project falls under categorical exemption listed in 14 C.C.R. §15302.
The project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; 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 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.