Gordon Bubolz Lodge

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 1 × C65 Dual Mode Capstone Microturbine integrated into an advanced multi-asset microgrid with controller
• Microgrid Architecture: 65 kW Microturbine + 240 kW Solar PV + 100 kW / 420 kWh Battery Storage + 25 kW Hydrogen Fuel Cell + Electrolyzer + EV Charging
• Thermal Output: 430,000 BTU/hr of recovered hot water for continuous facility heating


The Challenge
The Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve in Appleton, Wisconsin, spans 700 acres dedicated to environmental stewardship, outdoor recreation, and educational programming anchored at its central Lodge. Hosting public programs and community events, the facility required total energy resiliency to prevent power disruptions during extreme weather. However, as an ecological preservation site, traditional noisy, high-emission diesel backup generators were fundamentally incompatible with its mission. The Lodge needed a clean, ultra-quiet onsite energy solution that could serve as a dependable baseload backbone within a multi-technology clean microgrid.


The Solution
A 65 kW Combined Heat & Power (CHP) microturbine system was deployed as a core generation asset within the preserve’s intelligent microgrid, managed by a central controller that dynamically balances multiple renewable and distributed energy resources.
• Multi-Asset Microgrid Backbone: Works in tandem with a 240 kW Solar PV array, a 100 kW / 420 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS), an electrolyzer, and a 25 kW hydrogen fuel cell. The controller modulates the microturbine’s output based on solar availability and battery state of charge.
• Dual-Mode Power Resiliency: Operates connected to the utility grid under normal conditions and automatically transitions to standalone "island mode" during outages, guaranteeing uninterrupted power for critical Lodge operations and EV charging stations.
• Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Integration: Captures high-grade exhaust heat to deliver 430,000 BTU/hr of hot water, efficiently warming the Lodge building and offsetting natural gas heating demand.
• Ultra-Quiet & Low-Emission Profile: Features air-bearing technology operating at whisper-quiet sound levels with extremely low emissions, protecting the surrounding natural habitat and visitor experience.


The Results
• Uninterrupted Operations: Ensures zero-downtime energy security for facility operations, guest comfort, and community events during grid power failures.
• Living Model of Sustainability: Functions as a functional, real-world educational showcase of advanced microgrid integration for visitors, students, and clean energy researchers.
• Maximized System Efficiency: Captures waste exhaust heat to meet facility thermal demands while optimizing fuel consumption across solar, battery, and microturbine assets.
• Ecological Protection: Eliminates the noise, vibration, and localized pollution of conventional generators, fully upholding the Preserve's commitment to nature conservation.