麻豆传媒

At Shell Catalysts & Technologies, Daniel Shiosaki helps move the mission of energy transition forward. His career has included stints in process engineering, technical services, catalyst sales, marketing, and new business development. Today, he works to address the challenges of the energy transition.

In this article, Shiosaki sheds light on the Netherlands' distinct approach to the energy transition, comparing it with the views in the United States. He underscores the Netherlands' dedication to immediate transitioning away from fossil fuels and highlights the motivating impact of this commitment. His position at Shell Catalysts & Technologies has given him first-hand experience with clean technology adoption, enabling him to contemplate the role of technology development in advancing the energy transition.

1. Can you discuss your journey from college to where you are now in your career?

It's been a long road from college to The Netherlands, where I work now. I was a chemical engineer by degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Most chemical engineers in the energy industry end up in Houston, Texas.

My first job was at a Houston refinery as a Process Engineer. After a few years, I moved back to San Francisco and worked in the oil and gas sector in technical services and account management, mostly overseas. Later, I joined Shell Catalysts & Technologies back in Houston as a technical service engineer.

I've held various roles in process engineering, technical services, catalyst sales, marketing, and new business development. I also earned my MBA from the University of Texas in 2018.

2. Can you discuss your current role and the impact you hope to have on the energy industry with your work?

In my current role at Shell Catalysts & Technologies, I work in the new business development group as a commercial business development manager. I focus on exploring innovative ways to expand our business beyond its core functions, such as selling catalysts or licensing existing technology. I look for new technologies within Shell to monetise and help support their commercialisation.

Many of these technologies work towards addressing the challenges of the energy transition.

People realise the need to shift away from fossil-based energy sources and reduce carbon footprints. My role involves working in some of these areas, even though some may have yet to reach our customers. Instead, we are in the early stages of developing and commercialising them. We aim to create viable business models that align with new regulations and mandates, particularly in enabling plastics circularity and providing alternative fuels.

3. Can you expand on energy technology development and deployment? What challenges do you see with that, if any? How do you see your role in driving the energy transition forward?

One of the most significant challenges in new business development is bridging the gap between why we're pursuing a venture driven by the imperative of an energy transition and how we create a sustainable business model around it.

While the environmental goals are clear, the uncertainty lies in making these technologies profitable. It's akin to navigating uncharted waters, as many technologies may yield little profits and often rely on future legislation and government incentives to become financially viable. The challenge is predicting and adapting to a future we can't fully foresee while knowing that change is imperative.

Technology development plays a crucial role in driving the energy transition forward because, without innovation, progress stagnates. We can't rely on the status quo. Developing new technologies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels is just the beginning. We need to start somewhere, and it's exciting to witness the growth and evolution of these projects, seeing engineers and scientists piece together solutions from the ground up.

4. How do technology development and deployment work? Can you create a scenario that allows us to see how it might work procedurally?

Procedurally, many breakthroughs in the energy transition start as simple concepts that evolve into impactful ideas. Consider CO鈧� capture as an example. We recognise the excess CO鈧� in the atmosphere and the need to reduce it. The initial concept revolves around directly extracting CO鈧� from the air, aptly termed 'direct air capture.' Brilliant R&D scientists engage in brainstorming sessions to develop various direct air capture technologies. Shell, for instance, recently made the first investment decision to build a pilot plant in Houston, Texas, based on this idea. This journey started with a concept, went through multiple research and development (R&D) stages, and progressed to the design phase before heading towards delivery with the pilot plant.

The ultimate goal is to demonstrate its viability and scalability. Once proven successful, the process gets scaled up into a commercial plant and, hopefully, replicated globally. However, it's essential to acknowledge the unpredictability of the future, particularly in scenarios like direct air capture. There are potentially two scenarios: one where adoption accelerates due to early investments and incentives and another where the world takes longer to adapt to these new technologies. The market's development is uncertain, and the potential for profitability drives investment decisions.

Shell Catalysts & Technologies takes a cautious approach, emphasising prudent financial management. They're actively monitoring the situation, ready to participate when the time is right, ensuring that projects align with profitability goals and shareholder interests.

Direct air capture stands out from other technologies as it's fundamentally a net-negative CO鈧� process. While other technologies focus on capturing CO鈧� from emitting processes, direct air capture directly removes CO鈧� from the atmosphere where it can be sequestered or used as a feedstock for other processes.

5. Can you elaborate on your approach to skill development, both independently and collaboratively, and how this skill-building strategy positively impacts your day-to-day work?

Throughout my journey from college to my current role, I've embraced continuous transitions and undertaken entirely new responsibilities, often feeling unprepared initially. But I thrive on the excitement of learning and growing in diverse areas. Each role has added a unique skill set, some directly applicable to the next position, while others less so. However, the cumulative effect has been immensely valuable.

I can't claim expertise in any specific field yet, but I've had the privilege of collaborating with true experts and learning from them. Over time, I've cultivated many skills and, more importantly, a network of experts. I know where to turn when encountering something beyond my knowledge, and I highly respect those with specialised expertise.

These experiences and interactions with various professionals have contributed to my personal and professional growth. Now, as I work in business development for a field in which I've gained diverse experiences, I am more comfortable and better prepared for the challenges it presents.

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