Hotel Nikko San Francisco recently installed two Capstone C65 (65kW) microturbines to increase energy efficiency by simultaneously generating electricity for the building’s power and thermal energy for the hotel’s hot water supply. Known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP), or cogeneration, the exhaust heat captured from the microturbines is transferred to heat exchangers to be converted into thermal energy for hot water production. The two low-emission, natural gas powered microturbines will generate over 1,000,000 kWh of electricity annually plus up to 830,000 BTU/hour for the building’s hot water needs. The microturbines are grid connected and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified. The system provides energy and hot water for the 25 story, 532-room hotel which features luxury suites, abundant meeting space, restaurants, a 140-seat entertainment venue, indoor swimming pool, and a fitness center.

The cogeneration system was sold and commissioned by Regatta Solutions, Inc. of San Juan Capistrano, CA. Regatta Solutions is the West Coast distributor of Capstone Turbine. Mark Hauenstein of Technical Designs, Engineer and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Project Administrator, provided project management for Takenaka Corporation (U.S.A.), the general contractor for the property. Installation was provided by Accu Temp Air.

As a nine-time EPA Energy Star Award Winner, Hotel Nikko maintains a long list of green initiatives that include water conservation, recycling, and composting. The cogeneration system allows Hotel Nikko to achieve several additional goals beyond reducing energy costs. With Capstone microturbines, the hotel can now maximize operational efficiency, as CHP requires less fuel to produce a given energy output. Producing power on-site also avoids transmission and distribution losses associated with traditional power generation. As a result of burning less fuel to produce each unit of energy, the CHP system will reduce both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. From a facilities standpoint, the microturbine system minimizes risk and decreases exposure to utility rate increases.

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“The microturbine performance is part of Hotel Nikko’s overall strategy to reduce both our energy usage and carbon footprint,” noted Mr. Hauenstein.

The Capstone C65 microturbine is a UL2200/UL1741 approved package with integrated turbine and power electronics that uses natural gas to produce electricity and low emission, usable exhaust heat. The microturbine uses this fuel to produce electricity in parallel with the utility grid as supplemental higher efficiency power. Integrated Combined Heat and Power (ICHP) modules connected atop the microturbine units capture exhaust heat and convert the thermal energy to produce hot water. Heat Exchanger controls maintain the required outlet water temperature.

“Hotel Nikko’s environmentally conscious leadership should be a model for every hotel as this smart power project adds to its legacy as a premier facility serving the city of San Francisco,” says Steven Acevedo, President and CEO of Regatta Solutions.

About Regatta Solutions, Inc. www.regattasp.com

Regatta Solutions enables success for a cleaner tomorrow. As the exclusive Capstone Distributor covering California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii, the company provides solutions for oil and gas, data centers, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, food and beverage production, property management, landfills, digesters, waste water treatment, and utilities. Superb after-market service is available with Capstone’s “bumper to bumper” Factory Protection Plan. Regatta Solutions 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.