Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com), a manufacturer of microturbines, entered into an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Kilo-Pak for microturbine-based onboard power packages for the marine industry.Onboard power plays a crucial role on commercial vessels and luxury yachts, providing power for navigation, communication and computer systems; on-board lights; heat; galley and elevator operations; helicopter landing pads; and more. Kilo-Pak, a Reagan Equipment subsidiary, developed a traditional onboard-power generator for the luxury yacht market in 2008 that uses diesel engines. Recently, in response to interest across the marine industry in cleaner generating systems, Kilo-Pak developed the Klean-Pak power package, powered by Capstone's low-emission, clean-and-green 30-kilowatt or 65-kW microturbines. In addition to low emissions, Klean-Pak offers a zero-vibration, quiet and more efficient operation than traditional internal combustion engine generator sets.
"Emissions are a top-of-mind issue for many in the marine sector, especially since ports around the world are instituting strict emissions requirements," said Jim Crouse, Capstone's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Fortunately, Kilo-Pak is working to help solve the problem by replacing older technologies with environmentally friendly Capstone microturbines in the Klean-Pak power package."
Unlike traditional marine generators, low-maintenance microturbines do not require oil, lubricants or coolants because of Capstone's patented air-bearing technology -- thus further reducing the microturbines' environmental impact beyond just low emissions.
"As navigation, communication, computer and lighting systems on commercial vessels and luxury yachts become more complex, they require higher levels of power," said Victor McCullough, Director of Sales, Reagan Equipment. "Over the years, traditional engines to drive onboard equipment have become larger and larger, emitting more emissions into the atmosphere. We knew about the low emissions and high reliability of Capstone microturbines, so we said, 'why not use them on boats?'"