Royal Dutch Shell on Friday said it aimed to accelerate the shift from fossil fuel to greener energy sources in Germany. The company plans to use renewable energy and crops to produce bio-based aviation fuel and naphtha. It also intends to scale up the commercialization of electrolysis plants that produce emission-free hydrogen. The oil major said it had applied for subsidies from the EU and Germany for decarbonization. Shell has set a target to slash its greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.
Shell Deutschland plans to produce synthetic power-to-liquids (ptl) using biomass and renewable electricity. The ptl is expected to be the long-term alternative to fossil-based jet fuel and naphtha. The 100,000 tons/year ptl plant will be part of the company’s Rheinland refinery at Wesseling. The plant construction is expected to start in 2023, with the first production expected in 2025.
Shell also plans to build a 100 MW electrolysis plant, scaling up from the existing 10 MW unit. Hydrogen is considered a green fuel when produced using renewable electricity. Shell has started acquiring offshore wind power assets that will provide power for electrolysis. The company will also develop carbon-free delivery chains for hydrogen in Germany.
