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Industrial manufacturing represents roughly a third of overall global energy demand and 80-90% is currently supplied through fossil fuels. Electrifying industrial heat demand is paramount to achieving net-zero emissions in the energy system. We have set up one of our largest technology development programs spanning 2022-2030 with the aim to decarbonise manufacturing with electricity.

We are developing end-to-end solutions for the electrification of Shell’s own assets and those of our customers. We are still in the early days of industrial electrification thus partnerships and open innovation are key factors to mature and deploy at scale these critical technologies.

That is why we work with Dow to develop and pilot new designs to electrify heat supply to steam cracker furnaces. In 2020-2021, we secured new patents, onboarded additional research institutes in the project and earned the financial support of the Dutch government. In June 2022, we started-up an experimental unit for an e-cracker design at the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam, the Netherlands (visible on the picture on the left).

In addition, we are developing technologies for heat storage and power-to-chemicals, as well as the digital technologies required to optimise the dispatch of large future industrial flexible power demand in the power markets. This so-called “demand side management� is essential to integrate the growing share of intermittent renewable power in the electricity grids.

Achieving net-zero emissions requires massive development of renewables, new and reinforced infrastructure, and wide deployment of new electrification technologies. We develop technology options to make renewable power an accessible, affordable and reliable energy source. Our researchers and engineers are developing cost-effective storage and integration solutions for e-mobility, commercial and industrial customers and to support the grid.

Storage of energy in various forms (including electrochemical, thermal, mechanical or chemical) helps to address major energy transition challenges, such as the variability of solar and wind energy supply, bottlenecks on grid infrastructure, or reducing the harmful emissions from industrial heat generation.

Our team of experts brings together expertise and experience in battery technology, electrochemistry, materials science, chemical and electrochemical engineering as well as electrical engineering.

As the energy system will evolve to include large amounts of intermittent renewable energy, electricity, heat, and hydrogen are becoming increasingly interconnected. Power markets are rapidly becoming more distributed. Much of this is driven by more and smaller generators as well as increasing ‘own generation’ by consumers. The ability to predict and control different forms of energy via storage, conversion, controllable capacity, and demand-side management is crucial to keep decarbonised electricity systems safe, reliable and cost-competitive. This is why we are growing technical expertise in flexibility technology including virtual power plants (VPP) and energy management systems. Two acquisitions in Europe have helped strengthen our position as a leading power trader for renewable energies: and .

System integration is not a systematic process. Its significant complexity and uncertainty requires hands on experience and detailed knowledge of electrical systems response behaviour across applications in various sectors. We use the research facilities of our technology centres to test power applications with Shell businesses, research partners as well as start-ups and scale-ups to accelerate the development of renewable power available round-the-clock.