Capstone Turbine Adds U.S. Coal Bed Methane Market to Its C200 Applications

CHATSWORTH, Calif., Feb. 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq:CPST), the world's leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, has added the U.S. coal bed methane market to its portfolio of oil and gas applications with the installation of the country's first methane-fueled C200 at a CONSOL Energy gas processing plant in Pennsylvania.

CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CNX), a leading diversified-fuel producer in the Eastern United States, estimates the "clean-and-green" 200-kilowatt microturbine will eliminate 6,486 tons of carbon dioxide produced from coal bed methane from the atmosphere each year. Anticipated annual energy cost savings is $80,000. To commemorate the commissioning of this project, CONSOL Energy executives recently donated $7,811 to the local Charleroi Area (PA) school district.

Capstone distributor E-Finity, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, secured the C200 order, which is installed at CONSOL's Fallowfield Gas Processing Plant in southwestern Pennsylvania. The low-maintenance, highly efficient microturbine produces 200-kilowatts of low-emission power that the plant uses to recover 18.5 million-cubic-feet (524,456-cubic-meters) of methane gas each year and generate 1.3 million net kilowatt hours of clean electrical power.

"The C200 is expected to have much lower maintenance costs and emissions than those from reciprocating engines," said Jim Grech, CONSOL Energy's Chief Commercial Officer.

"As government regulations for methane emissions become stricter, we anticipate more companies will turn to microturbines because they can easily operate on methane gas, produce extremely low emissions, and are exceptionally reliable," said Jim Crouse, Capstone's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

A 2011 U.S. Department of Energy report stated, "Coal bed methane proved reserves and production have grown nearly every year since 1989. Today it accounts for more than 8 percent of total domestic natural gas production and nearly 8 percent of U.S. proved reserves. The U.S. Energy Information Administration believes coal bed methane will continue to hold a similarly important share in the domestic energy picture between now and 2035." http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2011/121511/CoalBedMet_FC_HRes.pdf

"The flow rate and methane concentration of the waste gas stream are well suited to the capacity of Capstone's C200," said Deborah Kosmack, CONSOL Energy research engineer. "The microturbine is rated to operate at 33 percent electrical efficiency, based on a lower heating value." 

"It's clear why Fortune Magazine selected CONSOL as one of America's most admired companies," Crouse said. "They made a commitment to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint, and their selection of a Capstone C200 is evidence of this pledge. The C200 will significantly reduce methane gas emissions at Fallowfield and will provide the company substantial cost savings." 

The microturbine power system could qualify the plant to sell CO2 credits and could qualify for Tier 2 incentives under the Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard.

Unlike traditional generation technologies, microturbines are well suited to using gas with low methane content. The Fallowfield microturbine continuously operates with methane concentrations around 33 percent. 

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 6,500 Capstone Microturbine 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.

About CONSOL Energy

CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CNX) is a Pittsburgh-based producer of coal and natural gas. It has 12 bituminous coal mining complexes in four states and reports proven and probable coal reserves of 4.2 billion tons. The company's premium Appalachian coals are sold worldwide to electricity generators and steelmakers. In natural gas, CONSOL Energy has transformed itself from a pure-play coalbed methane producer to a full-fledged exploration and production company. The company is a leading producer in the Marcellus Shale and is transitioning its active exploration program into development mode in the Utica Shale. CONSOL Energy has proved natural gas reserves of 4.0 trillion cubic feet. Operational safety is the company's top core value and CONSOL Energy boasts a record of almost two times better than the industry average for underground bituminous coal mines. CONSOL Energy is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Equity Index and the Fortune 500. Additional information about CONSOL Energy can be found at its Web site: www.consolenergy.com.

The Capstone Turbine Corporation logo is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6212

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is used in the federal securities laws, about cost savings, the environmental advantages of our products and use of our products in the coal bed methane market. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "objective," "intend," "targeted," "plan" and similar phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties described in Capstone's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that may cause Capstone's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such statements. Capstone cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Capstone undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

"Capstone" and "Capstone MicroTurbine" are registered trademarks of Capstone Turbine Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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Source: Capstone Turbine Corporation