Powering innovation in the Permian Basin: Aggreko’s first natural gas and battery hybrid application

The challenge
Provide reliable power for a remote water transfer site, while reducing emissions, fuel consumption, and air-permitting costs
The solution
Aggreko deployed its first natural gas and battery hybrid system, a 350 kW generator paired with a 500 kW/250 kWh battery, delivering efficient, propane-fueled power with remote monitoring and automatic generator backup
The impact
96% reduction in generator runtime and 96% savings in fuel costs, achieved by shifting from a dual-generator setup to a hybrid generator-and-battery system

Client:Multinational oil and gas company

Location:Permian Basin, Texas, USA

Sectors:Oil and gas

The Challenge

Providing reliable power for a remote water transfer site

In the fast-paced environment of the Permian Basin, water transfer operations depend on steady, reliable power to keep product moving through the pipeline. Aggreko initially designed and installed a dual-generator solution for the customers, two natural gas units, which provided redundancy and dependable energy for nearly a year.

The configuration was effective, meeting operational needs and maintaining uptime across demanding field conditions. However, as energy storage technology evolved, Aggreko identified a new opportunity: to enhance the system’s efficiency, reduce emissions, and streamline operation, without compromising reliability.

Through continuous monitoring and collaboration with the customer, Aggreko recognized this site as an ideal candidate for a hybrid power upgrade. This project would become the company’s first-ever natural gas and battery energy storage application, marking a new milestone in innovation for temporary power systems in oil and gas.

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First-evernatural gas and battery hybrid deployment at Aggreko

350 kWnatural gas generator (propane-fueled) paired with a 500 kW/250 kWh battery system

96% reductionin generator runtime from 167 hours to just 6 hours with hybrid support

96% fuel cost savingsvs the previous dual-generator setup

Image of a line-art diagram illustrating three interconnected components of a hybrid energy solution

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The Solution

Aggreko deploys its first natural gas and battery hybrid system

Aggreko implemented a 350 kW natural gas generator integrated with a 500 kW / 250 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS), a first-of-its-kind configuration within the company and the sector.

In this design, the generator charges the battery, and the battery powers the site’s 30-amp metering station and pump operations. The generator operates automatically twice per day for about one hour, maintaining ideal load levels and extending its service life. During all other hours, the battery delivers smooth, continuous power, eliminating unnecessary runtime and minimizing fuel consumption. This hybrid approach reduced generator runtime and fuel costs by approximately 96%.

If for any reason the battery’s charge drops or the system requires additional load support, the generator automatically takes over, ensuring uninterrupted power delivery. This hybridized design not only sustains performance but also introduces a subtle boost in reliability, combining stored energy with proven natural gas generation for round-the-clock dependability.

By operating fully on propane, the system can deliver approximately 50% total emission reductions versus using a traditional diesel unit. Because the generator runs for only a few hours each day, the customer also benefits from lower air permitting requirements, fewer maintenance intervals, and extended equipment lifespan.

The entire system is integrated with Aggreko Remote Monitoring (ARM), providing 24/7 visibility into equipment performance. Through ARM, Aggreko’s operations team can track system health, monitor pipeline pressure, and send remote start signals when product movement is required. This level of oversight ensures proactive issue detection, faster response times, and maximum uptime, all key contributors to the site’s enhanced reliability.

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The Impact

Hybrid system implementation yields 96% runtime and fuel savings

The hybrid system has proven to be a powerful evolution of the original setup, delivering measurable improvements in performance, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

By transitioning from a dual-generator design to a generator-plus-battery configuration, the customer maintained the same dependable power supply while achieving:

96% reduction in generator runtime and 96% savings in fuel costs, achieved by shifting from a dual-generator setup to a hybrid generator-and-battery system
Reduced air permitting costs, thanks to limited generator runtime
Enhanced reliability, through battery backup, automatic transfer, and continuous monitoring
Fuel savings, with propane operation and fewer generator hours
Greater operational insight, enabled by 24/7 remote monitoring

This project not only met the site’s demanding power needs but also set a precedent for innovation within Aggreko and the oil and gas industry at large.

As the company’s first natural gas and battery hybrid deployment, it demonstrates how Aggreko continues to push boundaries, blending proven generation technology with modern energy storage to deliver cleaner, smarter, and more reliable power for critical field operations.

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A graphical map illustration of the United States displaying Aggreko's first-ever gas and battery hybrid power setup location

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Powering innovation in the Permian Basin: Aggreko’s first natural gas and battery hybrid application

Powering innovation in the Permian Basin: Aggreko’s first natural gas and battery hybrid application

Providing reliable power for a remote water transfer site

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Aggreko deploys its first natural gas and battery hybrid system

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Hybrid system implementation yields 96% runtime and fuel savings

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Providing reliable power for a remote water transfer site

Aggreko deploys its first natural gas and battery hybrid system

Hybrid system implementation yields 96% runtime and fuel savings

Tags