News

Capstone Extends Agreement With GE; Products Eligible for Incentive Under California Self-Generation Incentive Program

December 05, 2011 by Jeff Shepard

Capstone Turbine Corp. a clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, recently extended its OEM agreement for GE’s Heat Recovery Solutions segment Clean Cycle™ generators.

The original agreement has been extended through January 2016. In addition, GE will provide parts support to Capstone through 2020. Capstone has seen significant interest in the Clean Cycle generator, both with Capstone’s microturbine and in other waste heat applications. The addition of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology to the California Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) means that qualifying California utility customers can receive up to a $1,250/kW rebate to help reduce the cost of installing the Capstone waste heat application.

The SGIP was modified by a California Public Utilities Commission decision that made Organic Rankine Cycle/Waste Heat-to-Power systems eligible for the SGIP along with a list of other greenhouse gas-reducing technologies, including microturbines. Capstone has received several orders for the Clean Cycle product and began shipping units more than 18 months ago.

"GE Energy’s collaboration with Capstone underscores the reality that there is no one ’magic bullet’ that will solve all of the country’s energy and environmental challenges," said Brad Garner, President – Heat Recovery Solutions for GE’s Gas Engines business. "Having the ability to offer GE’s Clean Cycle heat recovery solution in addition to Capstone’s microturbine technology showcases how different distributed energy applications can be leveraged in innovative ways to help California achieve its renewable energy production and efficiency goals."

"Capstone is pleased that GE had the confidence in Capstone to extend the agreement," said Jim Crouse, Capstone’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We have been aggressively training our distributors to sell and apply the waste heat to power application, allowing us to maintain the momentum we have created. The addition of the long term parts support from GE will allow Capstone and our distributors to enter into long term service agreements similar to the microturbine FPP; we believe that this will help drive more customers to our offering."

More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.