Shell set to open first cluster of hydrogen filling stations

The station opening today – at JFK international airport – is the result of a partnership between Shell, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the US Department of Energy and General Motors. A third station in the Bronx, due to open late in July, has been developed with the New York City Department of Sanitation. A station has been operating in the City of White Plains, New York, since April 2008.

The cluster of stations will provide New York drivers of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles with greater flexibility and convenience. It is a significant step on from stand-alone, demonstration stations and is part of Shell's strategy to build expertise in the distribution and dispensing of hydrogen.

"The prospects for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are strong in the longer-term", said Duncan Macleod, Shell Vice President of Hydrogen. "This first cluster is an important step as we continue to build capability in retailing hydrogen fuel, in line with the auto makers' plans to develop hydrogen vehicles."

Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward said: "Through efforts with governmental and corporate partners, the Port Authority leads by example towards the goal of sustainability. The opening of this hydrogen pumping facility is another positive step for the region and the globe. I want to personally thank everyone at Shell for helping to bring this project to fruition."

Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Susan Bass Levin said: "The Port Authority focuses substantial efforts and resources to minimize our impact on the environment. Whether alone or with organizations like Shell, the Port Authority factors the issue of sustainability into the decisions we make. An alternative fuel facility brings a positive option for the region and underscores the Port Authority's focus on the environment."

NYC Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty said: "As all city agencies strive to reach the goals of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC initiative and bring a sustainable future to all New Yorkers, public-private partnerships like the hydrogen cluster project announced today will be critical to our success."

The average range of a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle is between 150 and 200 miles (240-320 km). The three hydrogen stations in New York are within approximately 30 miles (50 km) of each other.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell has operations in more than 100 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas to liquids (GTL); manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit
http://www.shell.com

Enquiries

Name: Shell US media office
Location: Houston, US
Contacts: Jill Davis/LK Herlong
+1 713 241 4544
Name: Shell International media office
Location: The Hague, Netherlands
Contacts: Shaun Wiggins
+31 70 377 3600
+ 31 625 599 672

Notes to Editors

• An invitation-only event is being held at the new hydrogen station at JFK international airport at 11:00 EDT. For information, please contact Liliana Esposito on (212) 681-1380 or (917) 941-4225.
• Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles emit only water vapour and heat. The overall CO2 footprint depends on how the hydrogen has been produced and its journey to the vehicle. There is the potential for very low or zero-carbon hydrogen to be produced at scale. Today most hydrogen is made from natural gas.
• Shell buys the majority of hydrogen for its filling stations from third parties. However, Shell does produce hydrogen from electricity on site (via electrolysis) in three of its stations (Santa Monica LA, White Plains New York and Reykjavik Iceland). Shell is conducting research into lower CO2 hydrogen.
• Shell currently provides six filling stations, in collaboration with auto makers, local authorities and universities. These are in Tokyo, Reykjavik, Shanghai, Washington DC, Los Angeles and New York.
• Some stations are specialised sites, used by agreed vehicles only. Others, namely Washington DC and Los Angeles, are on every-day filling stations at busy intersections, where you can also buy gasoline and diesel.
• The dispensers at the JFK international airport station will provide hydrogen at both 350 bar and 700 bar pressure. The Bronx station will provide hydrogen at 700 bar pressure. 

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements.

Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘objectives’’, ‘‘outlook’’, ‘‘probably’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘will’’, ‘‘seek’’, ‘‘target’’, ‘‘risks’’, ‘‘goals’’, ‘‘should’’ and similar terms and phrases.

Also included as a forward looking statement in this press release is our disclosure of reserves, proved oil and gas reserves, proven mining reserves, organic reserves, net reserves and resources.

There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forwardlooking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation):

(a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas;

(b) changes in demand for the Group’s products;

(c) currency fluctuations;

(d) drilling and production results;

(e) reserve estimates;

(f) loss of market and industry competition;

(g) environmental and physical risks;

(h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions;

(i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions;

(j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including potential litigation and regulatory effects arising from recategorisation of reserves;

(k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions;

(l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and

(m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov - opens in new window - opens in new window). These factors also should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this presentation. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information.

In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. This press release aggregates our equity position in projects for both direct and indirect interests.

For example, this includes our indirect interest in the NWS and Pluto projects via our 34% shareholding in Woodside Energy Ltd.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. We use certain terms, such as resources, in this press release that SEC’s guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov - opens in new window.

You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.