Decarbonising Offshore Production Platforms Using Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

Abstract The world transition to cleaner energy has compelled oil and gas producers to pursue decarbonisation paths that align with climate targets. This is key for offshore oil and gas operations, which are energy intensive and highly polluting. This study explores hybrid renewable energy integration for offshore oilfield operations using a production platform in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria. The asset has an annual demand of 38.8 GWh and a peak load of 4.9 MW. With average solar irradiance of 5.5 kWh/m²/day and wind speeds of 6–8 m/s, the site presents favourable conditions for offshore hybrid renewable systems. Using site-specific environmental data and energy needs, six scenarios were modeled using HOMER Pro software: a conventional diesel only system; along with combinations of wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), sodium-sulfur (NAS) battery storage and hydrogen fuel cells. Net Present Cost (NPC), Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE), emissions and system reliability were then assessed for each scenario. Results show diesel-only systems yield the highest emissions (~6.99 million kg CO2/year) and costs. Hybrid wind–solar–storage systems achieved over 77% emission reduction, 30% lower NPC, and an 89.8% drop in LCOE. Storage enhanced reliability and increased renewable penetration. This study presents a techno-economic framework to guide offshore decarbonisation using location-specific hybrid modelling. The results align with Nigeria's energy transition ambitions and provide a framework for offshore hybrid integration. The outcomes validate the viability of hybrid systems using renewable energy resources and provide solutions consistent with international decarbonisation targets. Subsequent phases will also include Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and MATLAB/Simulink based tidal energy modelling to enhance offshore energy planning.