Utilities
Reliable, sustainable power for a changing world
Cat products are reliable and sustainable, and they help enhance the deployment of renewable power, such as solar, wind, and hydro. Renewables provide intermittent power, while Cat products provide firm on-demand capacity.
Cat products are sustainable. They can run on clean fuels today, such as hydrogen, biogas, and renewable natural gas (RNG).
Trust Caterpillar to be your power partner, helping you achieve environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, resiliency, and cost objectives while responding to your power needs.
- Distributed Generation (DG)
- Supporting Renewable Power Generation
- Resiliency
- Microgrids
Excess energy is stored for stabilization as well as for use during unfavorable conditions, such as cloudy days and nighttime. Generator sets supplement the system by powering the microgrid when energy from other sources is unavailable.
Facility managers worked with their local Cat dealer to install 528 kWp DC (500 kWp AC) of photovoltaic solar panels and 500 kW of short-term energy storage in the form of batteries and ultra capacitors to supplement the generator sets.
Available worldwide through the Cat dealer network, Cat Microgrid technologies can be purchased as turnkey installations or design-to-order solutions.
Nearly 25 years ago, Caterpillar opened a proving ground about 30 miles southwest of Tucson, Ariz. The facility includes open-air test areas, where Caterpillar conducts field trials on large mining equipment.
What we offer that meets your needs
Cat Electric Power provides cost-effective, reliable power for customers supplementing centralized power generation with solar, battery storage, engine generators, and microgrids. Gas generators give you the ability to peak shave while helping you meet your ESG goals.
- Solar provides sustainable, low-cost power.
- Energy/battery storage consumes excess power and can be easily dispatched to deploy that electricity during peak periods or power outages, for grid support, or for time shifting of energy.
- Gas-fueled generator sets (natural gas, renewable natural gas, hydrogen) are modular and relocatable, so they can easily be deployed where they’re most needed in the distribution network. Some gas generators now have fast response and load capabilities. Gas gensets also have the capability to run on alternative fuels.
- Microgrids can integrate the above technologies into one system.
We also offer engineering design expertise and rental power solutions, in addition to our customer parts and service commitment to whole lifecycle support of your power system.
- We will continue to work alongside you, our customer, to identify your challenges, understand your requirements, and deliver solutions that help you be more successful.
- Your local Cat dealer is your source for ongoing service and support.
- Caterpillar will provide expert consultation on how to design, install, and maintain your utility, including ensuring future grid code compliance.
Testimonials
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Utah Utility Teams Up With Caterpillar To Revamp Hydroelectric Plant
Utah Municipal Power Agency worked with Cat® dealer Wheeler Power Systems to overhaul its hydroelectric plant in Manti, including implementing Cat Switchgear and controls as well as remote monitoring.
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Airport Microgrid Anchored By Cat® G3412 Genset
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport installed a solar farm connected to a microgrid that includes energy storage, a Cat® G3412 gas generator set, and a control system as part of efforts to reduce the airport’s impact on the environment. The microgrid supplies power to the runway lights and other navigation aids at the airport and provides energy to an adjacent neighborhood since it’s tied into the local utility’s distribution system.
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Service Agreement with Cat® Dealer Helps Iowa Utility Meet Requirements
Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities depends on 12 Cat diesel generator sets to produce backup power should the entire city of 8,700 residents lose power. To comply with strict emissions requirements and keep the generators in top condition, Mount Pleasant counts on periodic testing and regular maintenance from Cat dealer Altorfer Power Systems as part of their long-term Customer Value Agreement.
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Volunteer Energy Cooperative Saves Thousands in Monthly Energy Costs
Volunteer Energy Cooperative delivers reliable power to its members across 17 counties in Tennessee. To keep costs low, the cooperative commissioned a Cat® G3412 gas generator set at its Decatur headquarters to help offset costs during peak demand periods.
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Altalink Replaces Aging Transmission Line With Help Of Cat® Rental Power
To replace an aging transmission line at Banff National Park, AltaLink partnered with Cat® dealer Finning Canada to commission a temporary power plant with six Cat diesel rental power generator sets, complete with Cat Connect Remote Asset Monitoring to ensure the gensets continued running for three months while they completed the project.
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City of Lehi Lowers Energy Costs with Peak Shaving
As the population of Lehi, Utah grows, Lehi City Power needed a way to offset the high cost of power from the grid. With support from their Cat® dealer, Lehi developed a power generation facility featuring three Cat G3520H generator sets capable of producing nearly 10 percent of the power needs for 20,000 customers.
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Cat® Generators Provide Efficient Power Solutions to Rural Oklahoma
People’s Electric Cooperative uses Cat® generator sets to provide efficient power to rural areas in south central Oklahoma at reasonable rates. PEC primarily runs the gensets when the cost of generating their own power is lower than purchasing grid power.
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Products Featured in Customer Stories
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- Continuous Rating
- 423 ekW @0.8pf
- 423 ekW @0.8pf
- Fuel Type
- Natural Gas, Biogas, Field Gas, Propane
- Natural Gas, Biogas, Field Gas, Propane
- Maximum Electrical Efficiency
- 37.30%
- 37.30%
G3412
Using natural gas for combined heat and power (CHP) systems and emergency power for facilities, to renewable biogas energy to support the local grid, or electricity generated from coal mine gases, Caterpillar has a wide range of reliable gas power solutions.
Learn More- Maximum Standby Rating
- 500 ekW @0.8pf
- 500 ekW @0.8pf
- Fuel Type
- Natural Gas
- Natural Gas
- Emissions/Fuel Strategy
- U.S. EPA Certified for Emergency Only Stationary Genset
- U.S. EPA Certified for Emergency Only Stationary Genset
G3412 with FAST RESPONSE
Caterpillar is leading the power generation marketplace with Fast Response generator sets engineered to deliver unmatched performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
Learn More- Gas Standby Rating
- 2500 ekW @ 0.8pf
- 2500 ekW @ 0.8pf
- Fuel Type
- Natural Gas, Hydrogen Blend (up to 5%)
- Natural Gas, Hydrogen Blend (up to 5%)
- Emissions/Fuel Strategy
- U.S. EPA Stationary Non-Emergency Certified
- U.S. EPA Stationary Non-Emergency Certified
G3520 with FAST RESPONSE
Caterpillar is leading the power generation marketplace with Fast Response generator sets engineered to deliver unmatched performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
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Further Reading
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Distributed Generation Using Natural Gas-Fueled Generator sets
When installed at or near a host facility with a significant heat demand, a generator set system with heat recovery can supplement existing boilers or other heat sources. In these situations, it is not necessary to invest in sophisticated systems that wring the maximum available heat from the engines. The only requirement is that the value of the heat captured significantly exceeds the cost to install and maintain the heat recovery equipment.
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Issues With Peak Demand
Diesel generator sets in the range of 10 kW to 20 MW are designed to operate mainly under variable loads. Generator sets will be purchased as either Standby, Mission Critical, Prime, or Continuous rated depending on the application. High peak demand customers incur a peak service charge from the utility. A peaking system with proper sizing, testing, and maintenance will help save on utility costs.
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Preparing for the Future of Grid-Code
As growth in distributed energy and other factors increase the risk of instability on electric utility systems, nations and grid providers are tightening grid-code requirements. Developers of distributed energy projects need to stay current with grid-codes and can look to a trusted equipment manufacturer for help with compliance.
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