Comment

Sparked by imagination and shaped by needs, innovation is, ultimately, a creative process.

Business guru Tom Peters is credited with coining the phrase “innovate or die”, and this is no exaggeration of the role innovation plays in the modern world. In the current economic climate, there has never been a better time to introduce simple, low-cost innovations that have the potential to deliver significant business benefits.

The business of innovation is at the heart of Shell’s activities, and Jacqueline Redmond, Vice President for Technology Strategy, describes the important role that the organisation’s new “technology engine” will play in this and explains the renewed emphasis on technical partnerships.

Cost-effective production of ultra-low-sulphur diesel from hard-to-process crudes is being made possible by innovations in catalyst technology. Catalyst performance, hydrogen consumption and regeneration yield all have impacts on the economics of processing more difficult feedstocks. Criterion Catalysts & Technologies has introduced a new catalyst that offers high performance and maximum cycle length while reducing hydrogen consumption.

Businesses can be helped to meet their business and environmental challenges using innovations. In China, this involves introducing an enhanced, low-cost coal gasification technology. The synthesis gas produced by this process is a cleaner source of energy because it emits less carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Innovation can also involve combining existing techniques and applying them to new areas. Tight gas is available in large quantities, burns cleaner than coal and can be turned into a range of products. It is a huge energy resource that could be vital in addressing the energy challenge, but it is difficult gas to extract. Shell is currently creatively applying its technology to extracting this gas and minimising the environmental impact of such extraction.

Over the years, Shell has earned a reputation as an organisation that fosters technical innovation, but we do not see the pursuit of innovation as an end in itself. We judge the success of our research and development projects by the results we can apply to real-world issues and the value delivered to our customers.