Massachusetts Maritime Academy

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 3 × C65 Grid Connect Capstone Microturbines integrated with BAS controls
• Annual Generation: >1,500 MWh/year of clean, grid-synchronized electricity
• Thermal Output: 1,290,000 BTU/hr (1.29 MMBtu/hr) of recovered hot water for dormitory heating and domestic hot water
• Financial Impact: ~$150,000 / year in direct utility energy savings
• Sustainability Integration: Operates alongside MMA's wind, solar PV, solar thermal, and geothermal systems as part of an elite clean energy microgrid campus


The Challenge
Located on the windswept coast of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) operates a high-density maritime campus requiring 24/7 electrical and thermal energy for cadet residence halls. Facing high regional electricity rates and severe New England winter heating demands, the Academy needed a resilient, high-efficiency energy solution to lower campus operating expenditures, offset legacy heating equipment, and support its campus-wide decarbonization and sustainability roadmap.


The Solution
Massachusetts Maritime Academy deployed a 195 kW Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system featuring three Capstone C65 microturbines integrated directly into the campus Building Automation System (BAS).
• Continuous On-Site Baseload Power: Produces over 1,500 MWh of clean electricity annually, offsetting expensive utility power purchases to serve cadet residential facilities.
• Dormitory Thermal Recovery: Captures 1,290,000 BTU/hr of high-temperature exhaust waste heat, routing hot water through heat exchangers to supply space heating and domestic hot water for campus dorms.
• High-Efficiency Dual Output: Converts a single natural gas fuel stream into simultaneous power and thermal energy, achieving total system efficiencies far exceeding central grid electricity.
• Low-Maintenance Cadet Campus Integration: Features oil-free air-bearing technology with minimal moving parts, delivering quiet, reliable, and ultra-low emission operation across residential quarters.


The Results
• $150,000 Annual Savings: Significantly reduces Academy operational overhead, delivering rapid capital payback while protecting state educational budgets.
• Clean Energy Leadership: Serves as a flagship distributed generation asset within MMA's multi-technology renewable microgrid alongside wind, solar PV, solar thermal, and geothermal infrastructure.
• Displaced Fossil Fuel Burn: Replaces central boiler fuel consumption with recovered exhaust heat to heat cadet residence halls cleanly during cold weather months.
• Proven Long-Term Asset: Demonstrates reliable, continuous performance since its 2009 commissioning, reinforcing MMA's commitment to clean energy technology.