Capstone Green Energy

Corporate brand

Developer and manufacturer of microturbine systems for distributed power generation, combined heat and power, and related clean-energy applications.

Last updated August 22, 2026

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History

Capstone Green Energy’s corporate history is associated with the development of small gas-turbine generators for decentralized electricity production. The company’s reference history identifies a California incorporation in 1988, while its technology-development narrative places the creation of NoMac Energy Systems in 1998 in Tarzana. NoMac was associated with James Noe and Robin Mackay, former AlliedSignal employees who pursued a compact microturbine-generator concept. Because the supplied reference describes both dates, 1988 is retained as the incorporation or founding year without treating the two dates as identical events. Early financial and institutional support came from NASA, Ford Motor Company, and Sevin Rosen Funds. Harold A. Rosen and Benjamin M. Rosen also became important supporters after learning about the technology. The Rosen family’s interest extended to transportation: Rosen Motors was established to investigate a turbine-and-flywheel automobile powertrain. That company closed in 1997 after failing to secure continuing investment from a major automotive manufacturer, but the microturbine technology continued to be developed for stationary distributed power. The stationary-energy strategy benefited from growing interest in distributed generation and combined heat and power. Capstone’s machines were designed to be modular, compact, fuel-flexible, and capable of supplying electricity where grid power was unavailable, expensive, or insufficient. In cogeneration projects, hot exhaust could be recovered for heating or industrial use. The company’s air-bearing architecture was a central technical differentiator: it allowed the turbine to operate without conventional lubricating oil and reduced the machine to a single principal moving assembly. The design also integrated a recuperator, which reused exhaust heat to preheat combustion air. Capstone marketed systems for commercial buildings, industrial sites, oil and gas operations, utilities, renewable-gas projects, and backup or hybrid applications. Its output range expanded from small units around 30 kilowatts to installations approaching 1 megawatt, with several machines capable of being combined and centrally managed. The product family included the C30, C65, C200, and larger Signature Series configurations such as the C200S, C600S, C800S, and C1000S. The Advanced Power Server provided a control and integration layer for multi-unit installations. The company also explored transportation uses. Microturbines offered a lightweight generator option for hybrid vehicles because they could start quickly and recharge a battery pack when required. The CMT-380, developed with Richard Hilleman and shown at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, used a 30-kilowatt turbine generator with lithium-polymer batteries. The project demonstrated the range-extender concept, although Capstone’s principal commercial focus remained stationary power rather than consumer vehicles. In April 2021, Capstone Turbine announced its name change to Capstone Green Energy. The rebranding aligned the corporate identity with applications involving cleaner fuels, energy efficiency, renewable gas, and distributed power. In July 2021, the company supplied what the reference identifies as its first hydrogen-fueled microturbine to Innovametall Stahl-Und Metallbau in Austria for a powder-coating facility. Capstone also participated in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Combined Heat and Power Partnership and was described as certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 standards. Sales and service activities were reported in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Capstone’s later history was marked by financial difficulty. On September 28, 2023, it declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The available material does not provide the subsequent restructuring result, the identity of any acquiring party, or a confirmed current operating status. The bankruptcy therefore represents the latest documented milestone in the supplied record, while the company’s post-filing status remains unresolved.

2023
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
[1]Capstone Green Energyen.wikipedia.org
Capstone Green Energy declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 28.
2021
Corporate name changed to Capstone Green Energy
[1]Capstone Green Energyen.wikipedia.org
Capstone Turbine Corporation adopted the Capstone Green Energy name to emphasize its broader clean-energy activities.
2021
First hydrogen-fueled microturbine referenced
[1]Capstone Green Energyen.wikipedia.org
The company supplied a hydrogen-fueled microturbine to an Austrian industrial customer for a powder-coating facility.
2009
CMT-380 hybrid vehicle unveiled
[1]Capstone Green Energyen.wikipedia.org
The CMT-380 hybrid-electric sports-car project, using a Capstone turbine generator, debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
1998
NoMac Energy Systems development phase
[1]Capstone Green Energyen.wikipedia.org
The reference history describes NoMac Energy Systems as being founded in Tarzana by James Noe and Robin Mackay to develop a microturbine generator.
1997
Rosen Motors closes
[1]Capstone Green Energyen.wikipedia.org
Rosen Motors ended its turbine-vehicle project after it could not obtain further investment from a major automobile manufacturer.
1993
Early institutional and investment support
[1]Capstone Green Energyen.wikipedia.org
NASA, Ford Motor Company, and Sevin Rosen Funds are identified among the early supporters or investors connected with the microturbine venture.
1988
California incorporation
[1]Capstone Green Energyen.wikipedia.org
The company is identified as having been incorporated in California as a gas-turbine manufacturer.

Products and positioning

Clean-energy and distributed-generation technology provider specializing in modular, fuel-flexible microturbines for reliable on-site power and cogeneration.

Microturbine generator
C30
The C30 is Capstone’s approximately 30-kilowatt microturbine class. It is intended for compact distributed-generation, backup-power, and combined heat and power installations. Its small footprint and modular architecture make it suitable for commercial, industrial, and remote-site applications where a conventional generator or larger turbine would be impractical.
Microturbine generator
C65
The C65 is a 65-kilowatt microturbine platform used in distributed electricity and cogeneration projects. Reference case studies include a hotel, an industrial customer, and a utility-related installation. In combined heat and power configurations, the turbine’s exhaust can be recovered for useful thermal loads, improving the overall energy value of the installation.
Microturbine generator
C200 and C200S
The C200 family provides approximately 200 kilowatts of distributed electrical output. The C200S Signature Series represents a later product configuration associated with Capstone’s efforts to refresh its portfolio. These systems can be used individually or combined with other units and controls for larger commercial, industrial, and energy-service applications.
Multi-unit microturbine systems
C600S, C800S and C1000S
The larger Signature Series configurations scale Capstone’s modular microturbine approach to outputs of approximately 600, 800, and 1,000 kilowatts. They are designed for sites with substantial on-site electrical or thermal demand and can be coordinated through centralized power-management equipment rather than relying on a single large conventional engine.
Energy management and control system
Advanced Power Server
The Advanced Power Server is Capstone’s control and integration platform for installations using multiple microturbines. It supports coordinated operation of several units to increase total capacity and manage distributed generation. The platform is intended to help integrate Capstone equipment into commercial, industrial, utility, and hybrid energy systems.
Hybrid-electric vehicle range extender · 2009
CMT-380
The CMT-380 was a demonstration hybrid-electric vehicle using a 30-kilowatt Capstone gas-turbine generator to recharge lithium-polymer batteries when needed. Its lightweight turbine was presented as a range extender, combining electric operation with generator-supported long-distance travel. The vehicle project demonstrated an application of the technology outside Capstone’s core stationary-power market.

Marketing campaigns

2021NTT IndyCar Series sponsorship of James Hinchcliffe
United States
Capstone sponsored driver James Hinchcliffe during the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series season.
Outcome. The sponsorship is documented for the 2021 season; no campaign-performance figures are provided in the reference material.
Source
2019NTT IndyCar Series sponsorship of Colton Herta
United States
Capstone sponsored driver Colton Herta in the NTT IndyCar Series during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, using motorsport visibility to support awareness of the company and its technology brand.
Outcome. The sponsorship continued through the 2020 season; the supplied reference does not quantify commercial results.
Source

Brand decisions

2023
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filingOther
Background
The company faced financial difficulty after operating as a publicly traded clean-energy technology business.
Action taken
Capstone Green Energy declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 28, 2023.
Aftermath
The filing introduced uncertainty about restructuring, ownership, ongoing operations, and the status of the company’s public securities. The supplied reference does not document the final resolution.
Source
2021
Rebrand from Capstone Turbine to Capstone Green EnergyStrategy
Background
The company had historically been identified with microturbines but was expanding its public positioning toward cleaner fuels, distributed generation, cogeneration, and broader energy services.
Action taken
It announced a corporate name change to Capstone Green Energy Corporation on April 22, 2021.
Aftermath
The new name emphasized clean-energy applications, including renewable-gas and hydrogen-fueled microturbine projects.
Source
2021
Supply of a hydrogen-fueled microturbineProduct launch
Background
Hydrogen was being explored as a lower-carbon fuel option for stationary turbine generation.
Action taken
Capstone supplied a hydrogen-fueled microturbine to Innovametall Stahl-Und Metallbau for an Austrian powder-coating facility.
Aftermath
The project served as a documented industrial demonstration of hydrogen use in Capstone’s microturbine technology.
Source

Recent events

2021-11-29
Capstone Green Energy and PowerTap enter licensing and manufacturing agreement[3]Capstone Green Energy与PowerTap签订授权及制造协议nashvilleherald.com
Capstone Green Energy announced that it had entered into a strategic licensing and manufacturing agreement with PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corporation. Under the agreement, Capstone will manufacture PowerTap's small-footprint hydrogen production product for fueling stations and distributed energy solutions.
2021-02-09
Capstone reports fiscal 2021 third-quarter results[4]Capstone公布2021财年第三季度业绩finanznachrichten.de
Reported: 2021-02-09
Capstone Turbine announced its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2020, reporting revenue of $20.7 million.

Sources7 sources

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