Shell Hydrogen
Hydrogen is positioned to play a key role in the energy transition. It has the potential to decarbonise hard-to-electrify sectors such as chemicals, oil refining, steel, commercial road transport, aviation, and marine. Shell sees opportunities across the hydrogen supply chain, including production, storage, shipping and end-customer solutions.
Shell Hydrogen Projects
Production
Netherlands 鈥� Holland Hydrogen 1
Shell is currently building one of Europe鈥檚 largest renewable hydrogen plants called Holland Hydrogen 1 in the Netherlands. Once operational in the second half of this decade, the 200-megawatt plant will produce up to 80 tons of hydrogen per day. The plant will be powered by offshore wind from the North Sea.
Germany 鈥� REFHYNE I: Rheinland electrolyser
At the Shell Rhineland Refinery in Wesseling, Germany, Shell built one of the largest hydrogen proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers in the world. It has a peak capacity of 10 megawatts and produces 1,300 tonnes of hydrogen per year. The electrolyser also helps balance the local power grid, by enabling the refinery to make and then store hydrogen when there is surplus power from variable renewable sources, such as wind. The plant, built by ITM Power, is operated by Shell, and began operating in mid-2021. Project REFYHNE is partly funded by the European Commission.
Germany 鈥� REFHYNE II: Rheinland electrolyser
Building on the lessons learned from Refhyne I, Shell has taken a Final Investment Decision to progress REFHYNE鈥疘I, a 100-megawatt renewable proton-exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyser also at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland in Germany.
Using renewable electricity, REFHYNE II is expected to produce up to 44 tons of hydrogen per day of renewable hydrogen to partially decarbonise site operations. The electrolyser is scheduled to begin operating in 2027.
The REFHYNE II project has been enabled by supportive policies, including the European Union鈥檚 (EU) binding targets for the use of renewable hydrogen, and the German Federal Government鈥檚 regulatory framework. The project has also received funding from the EU鈥檚 Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Transportation
Hydrogen could play an important role in helping to decarbonise the heavy-duty transport sector. Its high energy density makes it particularly suitable for trucks, airplanes, and ships, which carry heavy goods over long distances.
Germany 鈥� Shell Hydrogen Pay-Per-Use
On August 1st 2023, Shell launched Hydrogen Pay-Per-Use, an affordable way for the heavy-duty mobility sector to explore hydrogen as a fuel.
Customers get exclusive use of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) for a monthly fee. This makes it easier for customers to explore transitioning their fleet to hydrogen-fuelled trucks with reduced investment, complexity and risk. Hydrogen-fuelled trucks can reduce carbon emissions for the heavy-duty mobility sector as their tailpipe emission is water vapour. These hydrogen trucks can travel up to 450km between refuelling, depending on usage, and refuelling could take around 15 minutes.
United States 鈥� California fuel-cell trucks
In California, Shell has built three refuelling stations for heavy-duty hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, in collaboration with Toyota and Kenworth Truck Company. These stations form the first hydrogen truck refuelling network in California. In doing so they help reduce emissions along heavily used routes that connect the Port of Los Angeles with major warehouse complexes inland.
Netherlands 鈥� Groningen H2 fuelling station for buses
The Groningen hydrogen station is Shell's first operational hydrogen filling point for buses globally. Shell has built this subsidy-free hydrogen filling point on behalf of the Public Transport Agency Groningen Drenthe (OV-Bureau Groningen Drenthe). Shell is the supplier of the renewable certified hydrogen filling point, which is available for 20 Qbuzz hydrogen buses. Hydrogen buses offer a solution for longer distances in regional transport. Refueling takes about 10 minutes and the buses can cover roughly 400 kilometers on a full tank (25 kilos) of hydrogen, emitting water vapour as exhaust.
Collaboration
Shell is involved in and leading several initiatives designed to encourage the adoption of hydrogen in hard-to-electrify sectors such as industry and transport.
Shell was one of the founding members of the in 2017. This global coalition of the energy, transportation and manufacturing sectors leaders seeks to accelerate the use of hydrogen in the transition to a low-carbon world. Today the Council includes close to 150 multinational companies representing the entire hydrogen value chain. Council鈥檚 work includes a collaboration with the European Investment Bank on the development of innovative schemes to finance hydrogen projects.
Europe - H2Accelerate (H2A)
In December 2020, Shell became a founding member of the collaboration alongside Daimler Truck AG, IVECO, OMV and Volvo Group. The group is committed to fostering the conditions for the mass market rollout of hydrogen trucks in Europe. H2A members work collaboratively to develop the evidence base and public funding programs which could help move Europe towards a commercially viable hydrogen trucking system.
Japan 鈥� HySTRA liquid H2 shipping
Shell Hydrogen is also working closely with partners on the delivery of the world鈥檚 first liquefied hydrogen carrier by providing technical capability. The ship, Suiso Frontier, was launched in Q4 2019 and entered sea trials in early 2021. It was a successful demonstration for potential large-scale distribution of hydrogen between Australia and Japan. The Suiso Frontier completed its maiden voyage, sailing from Japan to Australia at the end of 2021, where it was loaded with liquified hydrogen before returning to Japan in early 2022.
