The role of technology in the energy transition

Four examples show how Shell applies innovation to produce more and cleaner energy.

Capturing carbon

In 2019, we successfully completed a one-year pilot project to separate carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the exhaust gases of a biomass power plant in Vienna, Austria. The project captured 0.7 tonnes of CO₂ per day. The technology meets high CO₂ recovery and purity standards and has the potential to cut separation costs per tonne of CO₂ by up to 25%, compared to leading alternatives. We are now working to develop the technology to commercial scale so we can capture around 200 times more CO₂. We developed the technology and operated the project in collaboration with two Austrian universities, TU Wien and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, and six other partners. The pilot project and preceding research resulted in eight PhDs and 15 published papers. Read more about capturing CO₂ in carbon capture and storage.

Plastic waste as feedstock for chemical plants

In 2019, we successfully produced chemicals using a liquid feedstock made from plastic waste. The technique, known as pyrolysis, turns hard-to-recycle plastic waste into chemicals that are used to make new plastics. These are the building blocks of everyday consumer goods like clothing, computers and mobile phones. This innovation takes us one step closer to our ambition to use 1 million tonnes of plastic waste a year in our global chemical plants by 2025 (see Plastics).

Measuring carbon uptake in nature

Measuring the level of CO₂ that is absorbed by nature, such as forests, grasslands and wetlands, is an important technique for assessing the health of ecosystems and the impacts of climate change. For Shell, it is an essential tool that measures the carbon uptake of our nature-based solutions (see Nature-based solutions) so that we can offer carbon credits to our customers transparently. Together with the University of Exeter, UK, we are developing and field-testing advanced measuring equipment that continuously monitors the carbon uptake in a natural ecosystem. The system is small and compact and a fraction of the cost of other systems on the market, while producing accurate data that can be accessed remotely. This will allow scientists to deploy more carbon flux measuring systems and gather more data on ecosystem health and climate change. For Shell it provides cost-effective and accurate measurement of carbon uptake in our nature-based solutions.

Blockchain activity in Shell

From tracking the source of renewable energy to changing the relationship between how energy is produced and consumed, blockchain has the potential to transform the way companies collaborate and interact to accelerate the development of low-carbon energy. Shell is currently progressing multiple projects that are at different stages of maturity ranging from proof-of-value, to proof-of-concepts and pilots. We are actively creating new business opportunities with blockchain.

Read more about Shell’s blockchain activities on the blockchain page.