Capstone Turbine will supply a microturbine for a 10-MW wind-energy based microgrid in China, the California company said Monday.
The microgrid will serve an industrial customer in Beijing, according to a Capstone spokesman. A major Chinese wind company secured the order for Capstone’s C600 Signature Series microturbine, he said.
The order follows announcement of the first government-funded microgrid in China in January, and underscores growing Asian interest in the technology.
“The interest in microgrids worldwide is expanding,” said Darren Jamison, Capstone President and CEO. “Reports differ somewhat but most estimates today put the overall value of the market for microgrids and remote power systems in the several billion dollar range with forecasts to rise nearly twentyfold over the next decade.”
In addition to wind power, the microgrid will include solar, energy storage and combined heat and power (CHP). The natural gas-fired microturbine will anchor the project as part of the CHP unit. The microturbine will operate in dual mode, so the microgrid will be able to function independently of the grid or with the grid in a load-sharing capacity.
The microturbine will be the first of Capstone’s Signature Series installed and commissioned in China. The company’s foray into microgrids occurred in December 2014 when it supplied a microgrid-based propane-fueled C65 turbine for the Oncor microgrid in Texas.
“Capstone is further aligning its business strategy to meet the demand and growth of the microgrid industry worldwide,” said Jim Crouse, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Capstone..
Capstone distributor, Beijing Haohai Power, placed the order for the microgrid in China. Capstone expects the project to be commissioned in October.
In all, Capstone has shipped about 8,800 microturbine systems to customers worldwide. Headquartered in the Los Angeles area, the company operates in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Middle East, China and Singapore.
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