Decarbonizing remote oilfields: Optimal design of an off-grid wind–solar–gas hybrid energy system

Renewable energy systems are increasingly deployed near oil and gas fields to reduce rising energy costs and carbon emissions during production. However, relatively few studies have investigated standalone hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) that are designed to address the limitations of renewable energy resources and are capable of supplying both electrical and thermal loads. Moreover, power–heat system designs tailored to oil and gas production have rarely been investigated. Therefore, we proposed an off-grid wind–solar–gas HRES and identified its economically optimal configuration to provide a reliable and sustainable energy supply for oil and gas field operations, using China as a case study. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of varying electrical and thermal load levels and ratios on the system’s techno-economic performance. The impacts of policy shifts on the system design were also evaluated. The optimal system integrates renewable energy with a gas generator–boiler subsystem to provide reliable, stable, and dispatchable electricity and heat. The system has a net present cost of USD 40.43 million and an energy cost of USD 0.0641/kWh, achieves a renewable energy penetration rate of 58.1%, and reduces CO 2 emissions by 72% compared with a conventional gas-based energy supply scheme. The proposed solution offers economic and environmental benefits, as well as adaptability and resilience under diverse scenarios involving uncertain production scales and changing economic conditions, thereby providing a valuable framework for sustainable development in the oil and gas industry.