As oil and gas operators seek to reduce emissions at their production facilities, well sites, and gas gathering systems, electrification is increasingly viewed as a viable solution. However, the common assumption that connecting to the local utility grid is the cleanest option is often flawed. According to FlexEnergy Solutions’ Oilfield Electrification Emissions Guide 2025, the most emissions-efficient approach to oilfield electrification may actually lie in off-grid self-generation alternatives—particularly in regions where utility grids rely heavily on fossil fuels.
Rethinking the Grid
While connecting to the grid can lower Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions under the U.S. EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, this strategy simply shifts emissions upstream to power generation facilities. In many oil and gas-producing regions, these power grids emit higher levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) than modern, efficient self-generation options.
For example, we compared the Flex Turbine® emissions against the emissions profiles of eight major U.S. power grids as reported by the US EPA eGRID program, including ERCT, SPSO, MROW, RFCW, RMPA, RFCE, NYUP, NYCW, and RFCE. The findings were striking: utility grids in regions like SPSO and MROW generated more than twice the NOx emissions of the Flex Turbine. Even in areas with a significant share of renewable energy—like SPSO with over 33% solar—grid emissions remained high due to reliance on dirtier fuels like coal.
Figure 1 (below) compares the annual NOx emissions of major electricity grids serving oil and gas regions to the Flex Turbine.
Why Grid Power Emits More
The main reason FlexEnergy’s solutions outperform utility grids in emissions lies in the resource mix of those grids. Grids with higher percentages of coal and crude oil tend to produce more NOx. In contrast, FlexEnergy’s turbines rely on clean-burning natural gas, which produces significantly fewer emissions. The analysis also highlighted how intermittent renewables like wind and solar struggle to provide consistent base load power without substantial investments in energy storage.
An outlier like NYCW (New York City West) illustrates the point: although heavily reliant on fossil fuels, the region’s exclusive use of natural gas helped keep its NOx levels relatively low.
READ MORE: Best Practices for Oil & Gas Field Power Options
Off-Grid Power Options for Oil & Gas
Sturdy enough for extreme conditions—including cold weather, high elevation, hazardous climates, and offshore environments—the modular, transportable Flex Turbine is the foundation of our off-grid power solutions for both brownfield and greenfield Oil & Gas projects.
Power an Existing Distribution Network. Brownfield operations that already have a power distribution system can transition from the utility grid to a FlexGrid microgrid. The FlexGrid microgrid functions as a dedicated power source, independent of local utilities’ constraints and potential unreliability, providing clean and high-quality power.
Create a New Microgrid and Distribution Network. For greenfield projects involving ongoing drilling operations and the gradual activation of multiple wells, pads, and facilities, FlexEnergy Solutions offers scalable design for FlexGrid microgrids and distribution systems that adapt to growing power needs and reduce scale over the asset’s lifecycle.
Single Site Deployment. Large production facilities situated in remote locations may benefit from deploying one or more Flex Turbines, or the larger GT2000S 2-Megawatt turbine on-site.
LEARN MORE: Off-Grid Power Solutions from FlexEnergy
The FlexEnergy Advantage
Self-generation field power systems from FlexEnergy Solutions deliver several meaningful advantages:
Flex Turbine® GT333S Microturbine. The GT333S is a microturbine offering high reliability, low emissions and wide fuel tolerance in a scalable/modular design that is quick and simple to deploy. With more than 20 years of engineering and manufacturing experience, coupled with over a decade of operating a lease fleet, the Flex Turbine is proven, dependable and delivers 333 kilowatts of continuous clean power.
GT2000S Gas Turbine Generator (Powered by Siemens). The GT2000S delivers up to 2 MW of clean electric power, capable of powering large projects with the operational simplicity of one unit.
Scalable. The modular design of the Flex Turbine allows special and custom turbine configurations to be built ranging from 200kW to multi-Megawatts, including microgrids. Individual main components can be modified or designed out of custom turbine configurations.
Remote Monitoring Capability. Turbines from FlexEnergy Solutions are equipped with remote monitoring capabilities, enabling real-time performance tracking, predictive maintenance, performance reporting and rapid service response, ensuring maximum uptime and efficiency.
Service Locations. Flex Energy has service locations strategically positioned in key oil and gas regions, including North Dakota (Bakken), Texas (Permian Basin), Grande Prairie, Alberta (Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin), Pennsylvania and Southern California, guaranteeing swift and efficient support.
Leasing Option. FlexEnergy provides a leasing option, offering cost-effective access to their reliable and efficient power solutions.
Ultimately, FlexEnergy provides a cleaner, faster, more reliable and less expensive option than the utilities.
Benefits of Field Power Options from FlexEnergy Solutions
Off-grid power options from FlexEnergy Solutions deliver multiple operational, economic and environmental benefits to Oil & Gas operators, including:
- Lower Emissions than the Grid. FlexEnergy Solutions off-grid systems typically outperform relevant grids (Scope 2) in terms of emissions.
- Lowest Scope 1 and Scope 3 Emissions. Maximize emissions reduction with the lowest Scope 1 and 3 emissions of any off-grid option.
- Maximize Onsite Power Generation (Avoid Title V Operating Permits). Reduced emissions translate into the ability to put more power generation on a single site without triggering Major Source thresholds requiring time-consuming and expensive Title V operating permits.
- Reduce Flaring and Venting. Significantly mitigate or even eliminate routine flaring and venting of associated gas and tank vapors.
- Maximize Production. Increase uptime with 99+% mechanical availability and only one 8-hour scheduled maintenance interval annually.
Oilfield electrification is a powerful tool for reducing emissions—but only when the right power source is chosen. The assumption that grid power is the cleanest option does not hold true in many oil and gas-producing regions. FlexEnergy’s self-generation solutions not only outperform the grid in emissions but also offer operational resilience and economic advantages.
We encourage you to evaluate emissions data regionally and consider flexible, off-grid power alternatives like those from FlexEnergy before defaulting to utility grid connections.
Contact FlexEnergy Solutions to learn more about our reliable, clean and simple field power solutions at sales@flexenergy.com or +1 (720) 826-0708.