Siemens, Shell partnership to focus on green hydrogen

Siemens Smart Infrastructure’s Electrification and Automation business unit and Shell Global Solutions International BV have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on development of low-carbon, high-efficiency energy solutions. The agreement further strengthens a longstanding relationship between the companies, and will focus on projects that produce, distribute and apply green hydrogen in industrial applications at Shell and its customers, as well as enhancing collaboration in the areas of biofuels and circular chemistry.

From left to right: Graham Henley, senior vice president, Engineering and Project Capability, Shell Projects and Technology; Carlos Maurer, executive vice president, Sectors and Decarbonisation, Shell Downstream; Stephan May, CEO of Electrification and Automation, Siemens Smart Infrastructure. (Photo: Siemens)

Under the MoU, Siemens intends to work with Shell to accelerate that company’s transition to net-zero operations, while Shell will seek to supply Siemens and its affiliates with low-carbon products that reduce emissions across the supply chain, in Siemens’ operations and in the use phase of its products, consisting of but not limited to supply of biofuels.

For more than a decade, Siemens has supplied Shell with electrical equipment (switchgears, pumps, transformers, electrical Scada). According to Stephan May, CEO of Electrification and Automation at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, the partnership created by the MoU is a further step in Siemens’ commitment to decouple electrification from fossil fuel resources.

“Partnerships are key to driving this effort and transitioning towards sustainable energy supplies,” he stated. “The partnership with Shell fits perfectly with Siemens’ vision of electrifying the world, while helping industry and infrastructure customers reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their sustainability goals.”

“Deep collaboration with partners is essential for the delivery of low-carbon energy solutions for the future,” agreed Graham Henley, senior vice president, Engineering & Project Capability, at Shell. “Building on our existing relation with Siemens, I expect this MoU to enable our teams to work even closer together. Siemens’ broad range of expertise in electrification and automation, together with Shell’s engineering and project delivery capability and ambition in the energy transition will prove to be a powerful combination.”

The MoU stems from the two companies’ work together on several projects since 2010, including the recently announced construction of Shell’s Holland Hydrogen 1 (HH1) project on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam. The plant will have a capacity of 200 MW and produce 60 tons of hydrogen per day using electricity generated by wind turbines in the North Sea. It is scheduled to go online in 2025.

Siemens’ Electrification and Automation business served as the plant’s power distribution and substation automation supplier, playing an important role in the project’s planning, construction, and execution. The business will continue to be involved in its operation through a servicing contract.