(AEV) SHELL & LUFTHANSA TO SIGN SAF PARTNERSHIP DEAL

SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) continues to be seen as the most practical solution for green flights that the aviation industry can implement right now, instead of the long-term alternatives. SAF plays a major role for both Shell and Lufthansa when it comes to their strategies for the future, so it makes sense for these two major players to join forces.

Lufthansa and Shell announced the launch of a collaboration that will result in significant amounts of SAF being supplied at multiple airports across the globe. The final contract hasn’t been signed yet, but the figures are impressive – a total of 1.8 million metric tons of green jet fuel will be supplied over a period of seven years, starting in 2024. This means that Lufthansa would roughly have its SAF supplies ensured for this decade.

Lufthansa Group claims to be the biggest SAF customer in Europe and has been involved in research related to alternative fuels for many years. It also supports the development of next-generation aviation fuels, which are supposed to be more sustainable, using renewable energy such as solar power. On the way to the big goal of becoming completely carbon neutral by 2050, the German group wants to cut its CO2 emissions in half by the end of this decade, compared to the 2019 levels.

Shell has similar plans, with the main focus on SAF, which is expected to cover 10% of the company’s global aviation fuel sales by 2030. Last year, Shell kicked off operations for two Energy and Chemicals Parks, one in Rheinland, Germany, and the other one in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the goal of gradually switching from conventional to green fuel production. The new Energy Park in Rotterdam has a capacity of almost 904,000 tons (820,000 tonnes) per year, and SAF represents more than half of that.

This Memorandum of Understanding marks an important step for the use of SAF in Europe, but it doesn’t beat the purchase made by United Airlines last year. That contract with Alder Fuels is for 1.5 billion gallons of SAF, delivered over 20 years. So far, that’s the biggest SAF purchase agreement in history. autoevolution - link - Otilia Dragan - link - more like this (SAF) - link - more like this (Lufthansa) - link - more like this (Shell) - link

(EUN) SHELL - PERFECTING GREENWASHING

Adverts by Shell and Land Rover have been pulled after complaints the companies falsely claim to help the planet. - Copyright Jethro Carullo

Two advertising campaigns that falsely suggested car drivers could lessen their impact on the environment have been removed after complaints.

The adverts from multinational energy company Shell and vehicle manufacturer Land Rover were found to be misleading by watchdogs.

Advertising standards authorities in the Netherlands and Ireland concluded that the companies were unable to back up their claims.

Both companies have been told to take down the adverts.

Shell’s deceptive CO2 compensation claim

The global energy company has been told it cannot claim that customers can compensate for their car’s CO2 emissions by filling up at its petrol stations.

Shell’s ‘CO2 compensation’ claim promises that fuel purchases with Shell offer a way for car drivers to fully offset the climate impact of their vehicle's CO2 emissions.

The premise for this claim is that the energy company invests in environmental projects that it says contribute to reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

The Dutch Advertising Code Committee (RCC) in the Netherlands ruled that such an absolute claim must be proven and that Shell fails to do so. The RCC concluded that protecting forests or planting trees does not make up for the climate damage caused by burning fossil fuels.

It comes after complaints filed by university lecturer Clemens Kaupa, Greenpeace Netherlands and Advertising Fossil Free. Shell has two weeks to appeal.

Last year, the RCC ruled that Shell’s ‘carbon neutral’ campaign, which similarly suggested customers could pay extra to offset their CO2 emissions, was misleading.

"The RCC ruled last year that the term 'carbon neutral' is misleading. Shell then replaced the term 'carbon neutral' by 'CO2 compensation'. They thought that this solved the problem,” says Kaupa. “But this new decision confirms that it does not matter which word they use, as long as they cannot demonstrate a clear benefit to the climate, every word is misleading.”

Are Land Rover SUVs sustainable?

The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) has pulled an advert by Land Rover over similar false claims. A print advertisement by the car manufacturer suggested its SUVs could help save the planet.

In the campaign, gardener Diarmuid Gavin, a brand ambassador for the company, suggested he is following a more sustainable lifestyle by driving a Land Rover.

In the sponsored article in several of Ireland’s national newspapers, Gavin claims the Land Rover Defender Hard Top was helping him in “planting the seeds of a more sustainable life.” The gardener said the vehicle’s mild-hybrid technology “fits in with his sustainability goals.” euronews.green - link - Rebecca Ann Hughes - link - more like this (greenwashing) - link - more like this (4x4) - link

(BUG) BP & SHELL UNVEIL GREEN PLANS FOR UK

The UK's two largest oil and gas majors have this week unveiled plans to drastically ramp up their investment in low carbon infrastructure, as calls grow for the UK to curb its fossil fuel imports in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

City AM this morning reported comments from Shell UK country chair David Bunch indicating the energy giant is planning to "invest between £20bn and £25bn into the UK energy system over the next decade".

He added that 75 per cent of the investment would be in low and zero-carbon products and services, including offshore wind, hydrogen, and electric mobility.

The proposed investment, which is subject to board approval, comes as Shell faces growing calls to ramp up spending on domestic energy projects following its decision to exit Russian assets following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The oil and gas industry is also facing growing calls from the Labour opposition for a windfall tax on energy firms' profits to help fund measures to support fuel poor households struggling with soaring bills.

Bunch said he would be setting out more details on the multi-billion pound investment plan in "the months ahead", but he also stressed that fresh policy measures were required from government on a number of fronts to drive investment in new low carbon infrastructure.

"Shell cannot act alone," he said. "Investing this money requires urgency of action across government to deliver the enabling policy and business case frameworks. These must address both the supply and demand side of the energy transition (in areas such as hydrogen and CCS, for example)."

The news comes in the same day as the Carbon Capture and Storage Association warned that unless the government urgently clarifies the policy framework for new CCS and hydrogen projects they will struggle to be delivered in time to help the UK's meet its net zero targets.

Shell said the vast majority of its new investment plan would be focused on green energy sources such as offshore wind and hydrogen power, but the news also comes amidst reports that it is reconsidering its decision to exit the controversial Cambo oil field project, which could see a new field opened up off the coast of Shetland.

Separately, BP today announced plans to invest £1bn in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to accelerate the expansion of its BP Pulse network of fast chargers. Timed to coincide with the release of the government's EV Infrastructure Strategy, the company said the investment would see BP deliver more rapid and ultra-fast chargers in key locations, expand fleet products and services, and launch new home charge digital products and services to enhance customer experience. Business Green - link - James Murray - link - more like this (UK investment) - link

(UPS) SHELL FIRST TO SUPPLY SAF IN SINGAPORE

Shell has upgraded its facility in Singapore to blend SAF domestically

European supermajor Shell has become the first supplier of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Singapore and has upgraded its facility in the country to blend SAF domestically.

SAF is approved to be used in aircrafts if it is blended with conventional jet fuel at a percentage of up to 50%.

The move comes after Shell outlined plans for a biofuels facility at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore, subject to a final investment decision, that would produce 550,000 tonnes of biofuels per year.

“Today’s announcement is an example of how we are building the capabilities now to accelerate the use of SAF in Asia,” said Jan Toschka, global president of Shell Aviation.

“Alongside investing in our capabilities to produce SAF, we are also focused on developing the regional infrastructure needed to get the fuel to our customers at their key locations.”

SAF is made from waste and sustainable products, according to Shell, and was blended in Europe, but subsequent batches will be blended at Shell’s facility.

Shell has previously announced it plans to produce around 2 million tonnes of SAF a year by 2025. Upstream - link - Naomi Klinge - link - more like this - link - more like this (Singapore) - link

(RIG) SCOTWIND AWARDS 5 GW TO SHELL/SCOTTISHPOWER

Shell and ScottishPower have secured joint offers for seabed rights to develop large-scale floating wind farms as part of Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind leasing.

The partners have won two sites representing a total of 5 GW off the east and north-east coast of Scotland.

The new wind farms will be delivered through two joint ventures called MarramWind and CampionWind. They bring together ScottishPower’s and Shell’s decades of experience working offshore and significant presence in Scotland, as well as their strong innovation capabilities for delivering world-class offshore energy projects.

“Shell and ScottishPower can now look forward to generating floating wind power at significant scale in the UK to accelerate the country’s transition towards net-zero,” Wael Sawan, Integrated Gas and Renewables and Energy Solutions Director at Shell, said.

“Floating wind plays to our strengths in deeper offshore projects, and we are well placed to help advance the wider take-up of this important clean energy source. Renewable electricity will play an increasingly important role in our customer-focused strategy, as we provide more low-carbon products and services customers need for their journey to net-zero,” he added.

Once built, MarramWind’s and CampionWind’s floating wind projects could accommodate a total generation capacity of around 3 GW and 2 GW, respectively, bringing clean energy to power the equivalent of 6 million homes in Scotland. This is more than double the number of homes in Scotland today.

The joint ventures have already started initial development planning and will continue to work at pace towards final investment decisions.

“Offshore wind is set to become the backbone of the UK’s energy mix and will do the heavy lifting as we ramp up the production of clean electricity on the journey to net-zero. Our ScotWind projects will make the best use of our fantastic natural resources to help power the UK’s transition from fossil fuels to renewables and a better future, quicker,” Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower, claimed. Rigzone - link - Bojan Lepic - link - Shell Wind Power - link - more like this (Scotland) - link - more like this - link

(UPS) SHELL'S HOLLAND HYDROGEN 1

Shell has signed up Germany's Thyssenkrupp to supply a 200-megawatt electrolysis plant at the Port of Rotterdam to produce green hydrogen from power coming from the future Hollandse Kust North offshore wind farm.

The plant will be based on the Thyssenkrupp's 20MW alkaline water electrolysis modules, with first construction work for the electrolysers to begin in the spring of this year.

Shell is expected to take a final investment decision to build the ‘Holland Hydrogen I’ project later this year. The 200MW plant is in contention to be the world's largest when commissioned, which is foreseen in 2024.

“We are looking forward to support building a major hydrogen hub in central Europe and to contribute to Europe’s transition to green energy”, said Christoph Noeres, head of green hydrogen at Thyssenkrupp's Uhde Chlorine Engineers, which will supply the plant.

“With our large-scale standard module size, we will further strengthen Shell’s hydrogen strategy.”

When the CrossWind consortium of Shell and Mitsubishi-owned Dutch utility Eneco won a tender in 2020 for the 759MW Hollandse Kust North offshore wind zone in the North Sea, it said production from the project would power some 200MW of electrolyser capacity, initially to decarbonise Shell’s Pernis refinery. Upstream - link - Bernd Radowitz - link - Shell - link - more like this - link

GUA - SHELL & SCOTTISH POWER - WINDFARM VENTURE

Royal Dutch Shell has joined forces with Scottish Power to develop the world’s first large-scale floating offshore windfarms in the north-east of Scotland.

The energy companies have submitted multiple plans for a string of large floating offshore windfarms to Crown Estate Scotland as part of the property manager’s latest leasing round for access to the coastline.

Floating turbines, which have no fixed subsea foundations, are a relatively new technology that will play a key part in the government’s plan for an offshore wind boom because they can be developed in areas of very deep water where traditional offshore windfarms are not feasible.

The new venture is expected to build on Scottish Power’s track record as one of the biggest offshore wind developers in the UK, and Shell’s decades-long experience working in the hostile waters of the North Sea.

Scottish Power’s chief executive, Keith Anderson, said the venture would bring together Scottish Power and Shell’s “collective knowledge, experience and expertise” to create “a new green industry with massive potential for exporting our skills and experience globally” - link