Shell will spend up to $1bn annually on hydrogen and CCS in 2024 and 2025
Oil giant said it will focus on regions where subsidies exist, and praised the US Inflation Reduction Act
Oil giant Shell has said it will invest up to $1bn annually in hydrogen and CCS (carbon capture and storage) in 2024 and 2025.
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Downstream director Huibert Vigeveno told Shell’s Capital Markets Day on Wednesday, that the capital expenditure would be focused “on regions such as Northwest Europe, the Middle East and here in North America — regions where we have an existing footprint, where policy support exists, where demand from customers is expected to be strong, and where we see a pathway to profitability”.
Vigeveno, will be taking up a new role combining downstream and renewable energy on 1 July, added that “stronger policy and regulatory support is needed”.
“A good example is the Inflation Reduction Act [IRA] here in the United States, which can make our investments more resilient and competitive.”
The IRA provides tax credits of up to $3 per kilogram of green hydrogen produced, while also offering subsidies for CCS.
More generally, the company said it will prioritise hard-to-abate sectors where it expects to see the most profitable opportunities, including biofuels and electric vehicles.
“This won’t be a linear journey,” CEO Wael Sawan said of the energy transition process, although he added: “Shell will be the investment case through the energy transition.”
The company is due to update its energy transition strategy in early 2024.
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