Shell starts up hydrogen electrolyser in China

Shell has started operations at the power-to-hydrogen electrolyser in Zhangjiakou, a joint venture between Shell China and Zhangjiakou City Transport Construction Investment Holding Group Co., it said on January 28.

The electrolyser will 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, Shell added.

“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,” said Wael Sawan, Shell’s integrated gas, renewable and energy solutions director. “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 decarbonise in China.”

The 20 MW power-to-hydrogen electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling stations in Zhangjiakou are phase one of the joint venture. The companies have plans to scale up to 60 MW in the next two years in phase two.

Utilising onshore wind power, the project will initially supply green hydrogen to fuel a fleet of more than 600 fuel cell vehicles at the Zhangjiakou competition zone during the Winter Olympic Games. After that, the hydrogen will be used for public and commercial transport in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, helping to decarbonise its mobility sector.