Capstone Expands Reach Into Eastern Europe -- Sells First C600 in Belarus
CHATSWORTH, Calif., July 6, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq:CPST - News), the world's leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, recently sold its first microturbine product in Belarus. Capstone distributor BPC Engineering commissioned the C600 in Belarus in a combined heat and power (CHP) application at a motive power depot in Baranovichi, Belarus -- the largest, advanced multi-purpose maintenance facility of the Baranovichi Railway.
Baranovichi Railway -- the largest thoroughfare of Belarus in terms of freight transportation -- purchased the Capstone CHP system to increase the depot's power efficiency and reliability.
A C600 microturbine and 800kW GEA heat recovery unit comprise the core of the robust, onsite power plant that achieves approximately 92 percent energy efficiency -- a feat that corresponds with the resolution of the Belarus government concerning power supply effectiveness for 2011--15.
Fueled by pipeline-natural gas, the microturbine power plant provides high-quality electricity for the depot's equipment and infrastructure and heating for workshops and other rooms. The C600 is the depot's primary power source. The microturbine-powered CHP plant operates in parallel with the utility grid for peak shaving. Operation of the power plant is fully automated -- a Capstone Advanced Power Server synchronizes separate modules and provides for optimal load sharing that reaches the highest efficiency with low fuel consumption.
BPC Engineering secured the order, supplied the clean-and-green equipment, provided project supervision, and pre-commissioned the highly-efficient CHP system. The project was supported by the Belarus State Standardization Committee because it fully complied with the existing requirements for efficient power supply.
"The depot actually is significantly cutting its power costs while the microturbine power plant generates clean and reliable onsite power," said Alexander Skorokhodov, BPC Engineering CEO. "By replacing the high cost of power consumption from the Belarus utility grid with low cost of power generation using Capstone microturbines, our customer anticipates an expected payback period of 3--4 years."
"Capstone is targeting Eastern Europe as a new area for growth, and our distributor, BPC Engineering, continues to build momentum in this market," said Jim Crouse, Capstone's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.