CC 12-03-2024 Item No. 12. Photovoltaic Systems Project_Staff PresentationCity Council Meeting
December 3, 2024
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
Photovoltaic Systems Design & Installation
Project
Subject
Capital Improvement Programs’ Photovoltaic Systems Design and
Installation project
Recommended Action
Approve the Capital Improvement Programs Photovoltaic Systems
Design and Installation Project conceptual design for three City of
Cupertino facilities:
•Community Hall,
•Cupertino Sports Center, and
•Quinlan Community Center
Tonight’s Action
Photovoltaic
Systems Design
& Installation
project -
AGENDA
1.Background Information
2.Review project site conceptual design
3.Costs & Savings projections
4.Next Steps
•FY24-25 CIP project, funded for $6.3M
•Submitted interconnection applications to grandfather NEM 2.0
rates for 5 sites in 2023. NEM 2.0 provides 80% better buy-back
rates for electricity. These sites must be activated by April 2026
•Savings in utility costs are projected to be $276,000 annually,
and $13M over a 30yr lifespan if the recommended three sites
are implemented
•Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)/Direct Pay program offers rebate
of 40% of costs for PV systems
•Installing photovoltaic systems at these sites does trigger code
requirements to improve accessibility and EV charging stations
Background Information
Sustainability Commission voted unanimously to recommend to City
Council:
a.Approve the Installation Project’s Conceptual Design for five City of
Cupertino facilities: Quinlan Community Center, Community Hall,
Cupertino Sports Center, Blackberry Farm, and Cupertino Library.
b.If the above recommendation is not fully approved by the City
Council due to budget constraints, then the Sustainability Commission
recommends the installation of the Photovoltaic Facilities in order of
preference: Quinlan Community Center, Cupertino Sports Center,
Community Hall, Cupertino Library, and Blackberry Farm.
c.The Commission also requests that the City of Cupertino pursue a
funding agreement with Santa Clara County Library District for that
facility’s portion of the project.
Background Information: Sustainability Commission
Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously to recommend to
City Council:
a.Approve the Capital Improvement Program Photovoltaic Systems
Design and Installation project's conceptual design for three City
facilities:
•Community Hall,
•Cupertino Sports Center, and
•Quinlan Community Center.
b.Include the Library if there was an agreement with the Santa Clara
County Library District and they would pay a substantive amount.
Background Information: Parks and Recreation Commission
Proposed Site Conceptual Designs
•Utilizes existing roof areas with the most effective solar orientation to maximize profit and mitigate the
costs of the system.
•Freestanding arrays provide shaded parking and significant shaded picnic area. Northern carport will
require some tree trimming to maintain solar access and may require shade be provided for some
existing ADA stalls.
•The picnic area structure will be designed to respond architecturally to the layout of the picnic area
(rather than one large single shed roof as shown in the illustration).
•Preserving significant trees and working within the aesthetics of the park were high priorities.
PV systems kWh
generation 453,795
PV systems annual
savings*$154,217
PV systems lifecycle
savings***$7,272,774
Construction Cost -
Total (PV+EV)$2,493,000
Direct Payback (IRA)
funding (40%, PV only)$867,200
City Funding $1,625,800
Payback period (years,
discounted cash flow)9.21
Quinlan Community Center
Sports Center
•The proposed locations have
optimized west and south facing
solar access, providing shade for
some parking spaces and
spectator areas.
•The northern array is split to allow
for pedestrian and operational
access to the courts.
PV systems kWh
generation 322,104
PV systems annual
savings*$93,047
PV systems lifecycle
savings***$4,434,018
Construction Cost -
Total (PV+EV)$1,965,000
Direct Payback (IRA)
funding (40%, PV only)$726,000
City Funding $1,239,000
Payback period (years,
discounted cash flow)11.11
Ideally oriented system
with rooftop racking.
Roof penetrations will not
be required, as system
will be able to clamp to
standing seam roof
profile.
PV systems kWh
generation 66,784
PV systems annual
savings*$29,441
PV systems lifecycle
savings***$1,315,345
Construction Cost -
Total (PV+EV)$377,000
Direct Payback (IRA)
funding (40%, PV only)$150,800
City Funding $226,200
Payback period (years,
discounted cash flow)7.15
Community Hall
•Modules are ideally
oriented to the west or
south.
•Standing seam rooftops
(supporting the two largest
rooftop arrays) are ideal
for supporting solar, as
racking can be clamped
to the standing seams as
opposed to penetrating
the roof surface.
•Long trenching/boring
routes will be required to
consolidate generation at
point of interconnection.
•Some trees will need to be
removed or significantly
trimmed to support
carport installation.
•SCCLD pays electrical bill
for the next 20 years, so
direct benefit to the City
will be long term.
Library
PV systems kWh
generation 621,477
PV systems annual
savings*$189,074
PV systems lifecycle
savings***$10,847,040
Construction Cost -
Total (PV+EV)$4,103,000
Direct Payback (IRA)
funding (40%, PV only)$1,521,200
City Funding $2,581,800
Payback period (years,
discounted cash flow)11.33
•Single continuous system
that requires fewer
trenching/ boring paths
from various points on
site, mitigating costs.
•Proposed kWh
generation slightly
exceeds usage
•The system is far enough
from trees that tree
trimming will not be
needed to ensure solar
access, and the existing
netting system will
protect the array from
golf balls.
•With system shading
parking stalls,
proportional shade
coverage will need to
be provided on ADA
parking stalls.
Blackberry Farm
PV systems kWh
generation 110,948
PV systems annual
savings*$38,253
PV systems lifecycle
savings***$1,563,642
Construction Cost -
Total (PV+EV)$1,056,000
Direct Payback (IRA)
funding (40%, PV only)$382,400
City Funding $673,600
Payback period (years,
discounted cash flow)14.08
Costs & Savings
Costs & Savings: Implement all Five Sites
•Annual Cost Savings: $504,032 projected, with $25.4M 30-year lifecycle savings
•Cost of Design and Construction ($10M to $12M) exceeds $6.3M project budget. This option requires
Council’s approval to increase the project budget by ~$6M.
•BBF has higher costs compared to utility reduction benefit, resulting in a longer payback period.
•Library tenant (SCCLD) will reap the benefit of a reduced electrical bill for the duration of their lease
(~20 years). The City’s benefit will be the increased resilience of the Cooling Center once battery back-
up systems are installed as a follow-up project.
Costs & Savings: Four Sites (Eliminate BBF)
•Annual Cost Savings: $465,779 projected, with $23.9M 30-year lifecycle savings. Cost benefit is slightly
lessened from 5-site option, but not significantly.
•Cost of Design and Construction ($9M to $11M) exceeds $6.3M project budget. This option requires
Council’s approval to increase the project budget by ~$5M.
•Library tenant (SCCLD) will reap the benefit of a reduced electrical bill for the duration of their lease
(~20 years). The City’s benefit will be the increased resilience of the Cooling Center once battery back-
up systems are installed as a follow-up project.
Costs & Savings: Four Sites (Eliminate Library)
•Annual Cost Savings: $314,958 projected, with $14.6M 30-year lifecycle savings. Cost Benefit is notably
lessened from 5-site option.
•Cost of Design and Construction ($6M to $7M) exceeds $6.3M project budget. This option requires
Council’s approval to increase the project budget by ~$1M.
•BBF has higher costs compared to utility reduction benefit, resulting in a longer payback period.
Costs & Savings: Three Sites (Eliminate BBF and Library)
•Annual Cost Savings: $276,705 projected, with $13M 30-year lifecycle savings. Cost benefit is
significantly lessened from 5-site option.
•Cost of Design and Construction ($5M to $6M) is within the $6.3M project budget.
The project team recommends proceeding with this option.
Next Steps
Objectives & Next Steps
•The Request for Proposals (RFP) process is underway. Update the RFP
proposers with Council’s direction, following this meeting.
•Negotiate terms with successful Design/Build Entity and return to Council
in January 2025 to award contract.
•Initiate design process, including procurement, in January 2025.
Completion required by April 2026.
Subject
Capital Improvement Programs’ Photovoltaic Systems Design and
Installation project
Recommended Action
Approve the Capital Improvement Programs Photovoltaic Systems
Design and Installation Project conceptual design for three City of
Cupertino facilities:
•Community Hall,
•Cupertino Sports Center, and
•Quinlan Community Center
Tonight’s Action
Thank You!