Part of the improved efficiency will come from a revolutionary microturbine design, with a projected electrical efficiency of 42% and power output of 370kW, the company said.
The two year DOE program will total almost $17m, with the DOE supporting the program with $5m in funding. Capstone is the prime contractor for this program and will rely on support from Oak Ridge National Laboratories and NASA.
The company claims that the new microturbine design will be combined with an integrated heat recovery system to provide a total system efficiency of 85%. The new microturbine will be designed to meet the emission standards of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Extending the power rating of a single microturbine to 370kW will allow larger integrated package ratings, and further expand Capstone’s C1000 packaged offering into current and new markets.
Darren Jamison, president and CEO of Capstone, said: “Capstone is honored that the US DOE has chosen to provide this grant for future Capstone products as it further solidifies Capstone’s microturbine technology in the clean combined heat and power market space.
“Capstone was selected by the DOE to negotiate a final award agreement, as this program will lead to our next generation product beyond our very competitive C200 and C1000 products and should further accelerate the market adoption of Capstone’s ultra low emission products.”
This award is subject to completion and execution of contracts and sub-contracts with the various parties involved in carrying out the product development programs. Failure to complete these agreements could preclude Capstone from participating in a final award.
