Capstone Microturbine System Successfully Supported Advanced Microgrid While Powering Through Devastating California Wildfires

VAN NUYS, Calif., March 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq:CPST), the world's leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, announced today that an advanced technology microgrid installation, utilizing a natural gas Capstone C65 integrated combined heat and power (ICHP) system with a Capstone integrated heat recovery module (HRM), continued to operate over a ten-day period during the recent devastating wildfires in Sonoma County, California. 

Microgrids can be connected to larger electricity grids; however, in the event of a widespread outage, microgrids will disconnect from the main grid and continue to operate independently to maintain the electricity supply to the homes and businesses that are connected to the microgrid’s electricity network. The same incentives leading to an increased uptake of connected microgrids—improved reliability, greater sustainability, and lower costs—are also driving the transformation of isolated microgrids, such as island grids.

The California farm, on which the microgrid is installed, is spread across 16 acres and 16 buildings. Despite widespread power outages in the region, the islanded microgrid was able to operate the irrigation systems on the farm even after evacuations were ordered. The farm was fortunately spared from the devastating wildfire.

The roof-mounted HRM captures the C65 microturbines exhaust gas, creating hot water that is used for heating and cooling of the buildings and two swimming pools. Utilizing the Capstone HRM raises the total system efficiency of the combined cooling heat and power (CCHP) system to approximately 90%. The CCHP system is a closed loop system which reduces evaporative losses that would be incurred through traditional systems, critical to often drought-ridden California where water rates reflect the scarcity of the resource.

Also important to California is air quality and the Capstone microturbine is no stranger to meeting California’s world-leading strict emissions standards. The C65 microturbine exceeds the standards as set forth by the California Air Resources Board, a key variable in ensuring the farm can maintain their mission of being environmentally friendly.

Over the last year, the resiliency of microturbines have continued to be instrumental in withstanding many natural disasters, as demonstrated with Capstone microturbines performance during Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, Irma, and previously, Sandy. Installations during these events remained online and were the sole source of power for many impacted customers.

“Not only do Capstone microturbines ensure energy availability for advanced microgrids before, during, and after potential disasters, but they also help reduce electrical expenditures for years afterwards when electric utility rates inevitably rise to pay for grid infrastructure repairs and improvements associated with these man-made disasters,” said Darren Jamison, Capstone’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Hundreds of microgrids are in operation today, and they are growing in number around the world. Capstone has been a part of numerous successful new microgrid installations ranging from a premier craft brewery in Northern California to an innovative software company in downtown Minneapolis, to the largest wind turbine manufacturer in China,” concluded Mr. Jamison.

About Capstone Turbine Corporation

Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq:CPST) is the world's leading producer of low-emission microturbine systems and was the first to market commercially viable microturbine energy products. Capstone has shipped over 9,000 Capstone Microturbine systems to customers worldwide. These award-winning systems have logged millions of documented runtime operating hours. Capstone is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Combined Heat and Power Partnership, which is committed to improving the efficiency of the nation's energy infrastructure and reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. A UL-Certified ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified company, Capstone is headquartered in the Los Angeles area with sales and/or service centers in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is used in the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "objective," "intend," "targeted," "plan" and similar phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties described in Capstone's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that may cause Capstone's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such statements. Capstone cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Capstone undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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CONTACT: Capstone Turbine Corporation
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Released March 19, 2018