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Alternative energy
Energy, energy everywhere and all for the taking – but how best to take it? Fossil fuels will likely remain the world’s main energy source for many decades to come, but at the same time, sustainable, clean and convenient energy sources will increasingly be needed to meet growing demand.
It is estimated that 7% of all fuel will be from sustainable sources by 2030 – a volume equivalent to about two million barrels of oil a day.
Shell is helping create viable and sustainable alternatives for both fuel and power through scientific and technological developments in such areas as biomass, wind, hydrogen and solar – often by partnering with companies whose specialized know-how can be added to our own to accelerate the process.
We aim to drive down the cost of alternative energy sources and help overcome other practical hurdles to them becoming more widely available.
Biofuels
Enzymes eating away at straw. Oil squeezed from algae. Or wood chips turned to liquid. These are just some of the technical programs Shell is pursuing in developing better biofuels that could see CO2 reductions and a sustainable alternative fuel source that doesn’t compete with food crops.
Solar
The sun is continually beaming abundant energy to the Earth as light, and for centuries people have captured solar radiation and converted it into useful power using a number of technologies.
Shell, too, has been investigating and developing technologies designed to capture and use these plentiful, carbon-free rays.
Together with Saint-Gobain, Shell has taken CIS thin-film, an important solar technology, from the R&D stage to the point of large-scale manufacturing. This is a small but key contribution towards helping resolve the energy challenge.
Learn more about Shell and solar energy on our corporate website - opens in new window.
The developments in CIS thin-film have moved photovoltaic technologies forward, making the production of solar energy less dependent on silicon. CIS or ‘thin film solar’ greatly simplifies the production process and results in a smooth black panel that absorbs the sun’s power, even in low light.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen, the simplest element in the universe and the most plentiful gas on earth is being developed into energy through a clever process of steam reformation.
Often touted as being “as clean as water” and the “fuel of the future,” high hopes are held for hydrogen power - from running your car, to heating your home.
Our technology focus at Shell is on learning as much as possible about hydrogen refueling and how to meet future customer needs. This means hydrogen will initially be obtained mainly from natural gas, but ultimately we expect to produce hydrogen from renewables, such as wind, solar and, one day, biomass.