Schmidt Artists Lofts

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 1 × C65 Grid Connect Capstone Microturbine integrated with central BAS controls
• Annual Generation: >500 MWh/year of clean, grid-synchronized electricity
• Thermal Output: 430,000 BTU/hr of recovered hot water for space heating and domestic hot water
• Financial Impact: ~$50,000 / year in annual energy cost reductions
• Historic Preservation: Supplied by Veristar Energy during the landmark 2014 brewery-to-residential transformation


The Challenge
Vacant for 11 years, the historic Schmidt Brewery in St. Paul, Minnesota, underwent a landmark revitalization in 2014, converting the Brew House and Bottling House into 247 creative live-work lofts and 13 town homes. Managing high centralized utility bills and reliable hydronic heating during Minnesota’s harsh winters presented a significant operational challenge. The developer needed an efficient, ultra-quiet, and compact energy solution that could operate in the basement without disturbing resident artists while lowering common-area power costs and supplying continuous building heat.


The Solution
Veristar supplied a 65 kW Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system featuring a Capstone C65 microturbine, seamlessly integrated into the building’s centralized Building Automation System (BAS).
• Quiet On-Site Generation: Produces over 500 MWh of clean electricity annually behind the scenes, utilizing inverter-based generation to enhance power quality across the historic 260-unit complex.
• Hydronic Thermal Recovery: Captures 430,000 BTU/hr of exhaust waste heat to deliver reliable hot water for space heating and domestic supply during cold winter months.
• Vibration-Free Operation: Leverages oil-free air-bearing technology with a single moving part, ensuring whisper-quiet operation that preserves the peaceful living and creative space of resident artists.
• Compact Footprint: Fits easily into the historical basement architecture without requiring extensive structural alterations to the century-old landmark.


The Results
• Annual Savings: Cuts annual energy overhead by $50,000, keeping operational costs low for the historic multifamily community.
• Enhanced Power Quality & Comfort: Inverter-based power ensures stable electricity while recovered thermal energy keeps tenants warm throughout severe winter weather.
• Model Multifamily Deployment: Demonstrates the value of small-scale microturbine CHP in commercial and residential historic adaptive reuse projects.
• Proven Long-Term Asset: Has delivered quiet, reliable, behind-the-scenes energy and heating since its 2014 commissioning.