CHATSWORTH, Calif., Sep 12, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) —   Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq:CPST), the world’s leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, recently secured an order for sixteen C65 and C30 microturbines that will be installed in combined heat and power (CHP) systems at facilities along the Berkakit-Tommot-Yakutsk railway in Russia.
The Federal Agency for Railway Transport in Russia purchased the Capstone microturbines to provide round the clock reliable power for six railway junctions, two stations along the rail line and the track’s switching and signaling at each juncture. In addition to electricity, the system will provide heat for each facility.
Capstone distributor BPC Engineering secured the order from the Agency for Railway Transport and will supply the clean-and-green microturbines and heat recovery modules, provide project supervision and pre-commission the highly efficient CHP systems. This is the second order BPC has secured for a Russian railway in less than eight months.
The Agency has strict requirements to ensure reliability of power supplies for railway infrastructure across Russia, especially facilities such as these located in harsh climates with no utility grid power or gas transportation systems nearby.
Each diesel-fueled CHP power system, expected to be installed in the spring of 2012, will feature a Capstone C65 (65-kilowatt) microturbine, a heat recovery module, and Capstone C30 (30-kilowatt) microturbine that will be available for backup power if needed.
The 800 km Berkakit-Tommot-Yakutsk railway is crucial for the development of Russia’s Far East Region, since it will reduce the region’s dependence on imports; increase availability of equipment, industrial, and food products; and end the region’s transportation isolation.
“A study revealed that a network of distributed diesel-power stations using microturbine technology is ideal in meeting the small-scale power needs of railway junctions and stations,” said Alexander Skorokhodov, BPC Engineering CEO. “The agency selected Capstone microturbines because they are highly reliable with durable air bearings that eliminate the need for oil, coolants, and frequent service visits. They also are pleased with Capstone’s control features that allow operators to remotely control the microturbines located in very remote and harsh environments.”
“During my recent trip to Russia I toured the Russian Far East Region to meet with key federal officials, including the Minister of Economic Development, Minister of Federal Affairs and Minster of Housing and Energy. It was clear that Capstone’s products are ideally suited to provide the reliable, easy to operate, and low-cost power sources the region needs for its railway, telecommunication, industrial and oil and gas infrastructure development,” stated Darren Jamison, Capstone’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “At Capstone we understand the criticality for reliable non-stop power for remote infrastructure with around the clock stand-alone power requirements in extremely challenging environments like the Russian Far East Region. During the trip with BPC I also toured several of our existing stand-alone sites in the area, including a 3.8MW basalt rock wool plant, a 2.0MW concrete plant and a 500kW installation at a shopping mall,” added 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 Turbine has shipped over 5,000 Capstone MicroTurbine(R) systems to customers worldwide. These award-winning systems have logged millions of documented runtime operating hours. Capstone Turbine 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 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified company, Capstone is headquartered in the Los Angeles area with sales and/or service centers in the New York Metro Area, Mexico City, Nottingham, Shanghai and Singapore.