Shell, the oil major, announced this Friday it launched a 20-megawatts electrolyser in China; according to the statement, it is one of the largest devices of its kind in the world. The device will operate in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, China.
Firstly, the launching of the device comes from the joint venture between Shell China and Zhangjiakou City Transport Construction Investment Holding Group. The facility intends to provide about half of the total green hydrogen supply for fuel cell vehicles at the Zhangjiakou competition zone, during the Winter Olympic Games, set to begin on February 4, 2022.
Moreover, the joint venture came to be in November 2020; with the intention to launch a power-to-hydrogen solution for refueling stations in Zhangjiakou. After that, the partners came to the agreement of launching the project in two phases. The first one of 20MW, and then 60MW in the next two years, for phase two.
In addition, the first phase of the project took about 13 months to complete. It is Shell’s first commercial hydrogen development project in China. The project will draw offshore wind power to create hydrogen; which will power fuel cell EV’s in the area for the Winter Olympic Games. After that, the hydrogen will power public and commercial transport in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, helping to decarbonize its mobility sector.
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Shell seizing opportunities in the hydrogen supply chain
Wael Sawan, Shell’s Integrated Gas, Renewable, and Energy Solutions Director, said. “The electrolyser is the largest in our portfolio to date and is in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy, which includes plans to build on our leading position in hydrogen.”
He also remarked. “We see opportunities across the hydrogen supply chain in China, including its production, storage, and shipping. We want to be the trusted partner for our customers from different sectors as we help them decarbonize in China.”
On the other hand, Bai Jing, Director, Zhangjiakou Municipal Development, commented. “The hydrogen industry is critical for Zhangjiakou’s transition to low-carbon energy and to achieve the city’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets. The recent approval of the Hebei Fuel Cell Vehicle Demonstration City Cluster, which is led by our city, will also accelerate the development of the hydrogen industry in our city.”
Finally, Jason Wong, Executive Chairman of Shell Companies in China, concluded. “With project phase 2 expansion plans and through partnerships with the local government and businesses, we will support the development of a low-carbon energy system and low-carbon transport system in Zhangjiakou and the wider Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.”
