Capstone Green Energy Corp. (Capstone) will provide two C65 microturbines to Innovametall Stahl- und Metallbau for use in a combined heat and power (CHP) system in Austria. This will be the first hydrogen-fueled microturbine system in Europe. The system will initially run on 10% hydrogen blended with natural gas, with the amount of hydrogen expected to increase as Capstone approves higher blend levels in the future.
Capstone is continuing to expand and develop its hydrogen solutions business line. The company recently released its first commercially available hydrogen-based CHP product, which can run on a 10% hydrogen — 90% natural gas mix. Capstone is targeting a commercial release of 30% hydrogen — 70% natural gas mix product by March 31, 2022, the end of its current fiscal year.
The system to be provided to Innovametall Stahl- und Metallbau, which will provide on-site power to a powder coating production facility in Freistadt, will be designed in a hybrid configuration in which solar panels installed on the roof of Innovametall will provide renewable electricity. The excess electricity not required for production will be used to generate hydrogen, which will be used to fuel the microturbines. From there, the exhaust from the turbines will be captured and used in the facility’s powder coating furnace.
“This is an important project, particularly as the Austrian government has instituted ambitious plans to integrate hydrogen into its climate and energy strategy,” said Leopold Berger, head of energy systems at Wels Strom. “We aim to demonstrate, not just the successful application of renewable hydrogen as a fuel, but also the high efficiency and reliability benefits of this type of a CHP system.”
Headquartered in Van Nuys, California, Capstone provides customized microgrid solutions and on-site energy technology systems worldwide.
