Main content | back to top
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the world’s most plentiful element. As a fuel, hydrogen offers the potential to substantially reduce emissions and increase energy security. There are obstacles to be overcome, but hydrogen could become a commercially viable transport fuel in the coming years. Shell already has hydrogen filling stations in USA, Europe and Asia and is working to develop mini hydrogen networks.
What is hydrogen fuel?
Hydrogen can be used in modified combustion engines, but the best results occur when it is used in specially designed fuel cell vehicles.
Over the coming years, hydrogen could become an increasingly important part of the energy mix. As a new type of fuel, it requires new engines and fuel delivery infrastructure. Its development and distribution are therefore more challenging. Hydrogen can be used in modified combustion engines, but the best results occur when it is used in specially designed fuel cell vehicles. Fuel cells generate electricity cleanly and quietly with only water and heat as by-products.
Most commercial hydrogen is produced at refineries and gas production sites from natural gas or from coal or petroleum coke. Hydrogen fuel produced like this significantly reduces local emissions, but does not substantially cut CO2 production. Hydrogen can also be produced by breaking the chemical bonds in water molecules through electrolysis. If renewable power is used, then CO2 production can approach zero. Only 5% of hydrogen is currently made like this.
The cost of manufacturing and distributing hydrogen is currently too high even with the exceptional fuel efficiency of fuel cell engines. Several vehicle manufacturers are developing hydrogen powered internal combustion engine (H2 ICE) vehicles. This system is less efficient than fuel-cell technology but hybrid fuel cell/H2 ICE vehicles are a stepping stone to the adoption of hydrogen as a viable fuel.
If the environmental benefits of hydrogen are to be realised, the challenge is to produce, and make widely available, hydrogen fuel with low or even zero CO2 footprint.
Shell and hydrogen
We are working with other energy companies to reduce the costs of manufacturing and retailing hydrogen. We have alliances with many of the world’s leading auto manufacturers to advance fuel cell technology and align the commercial roll-out of vehicles with the fuelling infrastructure.
Our aim is to provide hydrogen at a price comparable with existing fuels on a per kilometre driven basis within the next 10–20 years, when mass production of hydrogen vehicles could begin. Shell is working with other energy companies to set up hydrogen mini-networks of dual hydrogen and petrol refuelling stations in urban areas in the USA (California and New York), Europe, China and Japan. Our hydrogen demonstration projects in Washington DC, Amsterdam, Reykjavik and Tokyo have raised consumer awareness, and have allowed us to build strong relationships with governments and the car and bus companies that will use our fuels. Mini- networks could play a crucial role in bridging the gap between demonstration projects and commercialisation.
In 1999, Shell was a founding partner of Icelandic New Energy Ltd., a pioneering project that aims to transform Iceland into a hydrogen economy in the coming decades, with all its cars, buses and fishing fleets powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
We fund hydrogen research at leading universities around the world. We are also supporting the development of fuel cell technology through venture capital funds in the USA and Europe.
We are a member of the EU Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Technology Platform, the Californian Fuel Cell Partnership and the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project.
Hydrogen press releases
Page Tools
