Utilities can make it difficult for users to connect to the power grid, a necessary step for back-up or supplemental power. While there are genuine technical issues involved, most experts believe this process is much more difficult and costly than it needs to be. Tremendous advances in technology over the past two decades have drastically reduced the cost and many other technologies exist that boost the useful energy from conventional fuels, which can drastically cut the pollution relative to production. Others like fuel cells appeal most to users like hospitals and data centers, which already pay a premium for absolutely uninterruptible power. Microturbines are smaller versions of the turbines that power modern, central station power plants.
Air is heated, compressed and forced through the turbine, producing electric power.
They can run on many fuels, including natural gas, wood or burning garbage. The units take up about as much space as a large refrigerator. They are most likely to be used in commercial and industrial settings to reduce power costs during peak demand periods or to ensure power for critical operations. Energy and financial savings relative to grid power are greatest when the systems cogenerate. Last fall, Capstone announced it has more than 100 orders for its 30-kilowatt microturbine, which produces the energy needed to power roughly 10 average homes.