Case Study: Santos Tarbat Oil Field achieves 50% fuel and emissions reduction with Capstone Green Energy and Optimal Group

Optimal Group - Customer Case Study

Optimal Group worked with Santos Limited at the Tarbat oil field in Southwest Queensland, Australia, to address an inefficient legacy gas turbine system that was overproducing power as oil output declined. The site needed a way to reduce fuel consumption, lower operating and maintenance costs, improve efficiency, and cut emissions while also handling large load fluctuations. Capstone Green Energy provided the core microgrid technology for the project, working alongside Optimal Group Australia and GPA Engineering.

Capstone Green Energy implemented a microgrid centered on a 1,000 kW C1000S microturbine, paired with a 250 kW solar PV system and a grid stability module with energy storage, harmonic filtering, and power factor control. The solution improved power stability and reliability, ran 10,000 continuous hours in the first 14 months, and reduced fuel use by 50%, delivering about $1 million AUD in annual savings. It also cut emissions by 50% and reduced maintenance needs thanks to the microturbine’s annual service requirement.

Optimal Group

Kane Ravenscroft

Sales Director