Capstone Turbine recently received an order for two C1000 microturbines to upgrade a top Northern California brewery. Regatta Solutions, Capstone’s distributor in California, secured the order, which is expected to be commissioned later this year. The two microturbines will replace the aging natural gas fuel cells currently powering the brewery. The prime movers’ flexibility can meet the facility’s irregular daily load demands, helping to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
The 2MW combined heat and power (CHP) system will be integrated with the existing solar photovoltaic system in a microgrid application to provide reliable on-site power and the ability to export any excess power generated. In addition, thermal energy from the microturbine exhaust will be captured through cogeneration and transferred to heat exchangers to provide space heating and hot water.
With its patented emission technology, said Capstone, operations at the brewery will meet the State of California’s stringent emissions standards without the need for exhaust after treatment equipment. The units are expected to be commissioned in a CHP heat recovery configuration so the plant’s total system efficiency will exceed 80 percent.
