Shell Renewable Move28 Mar 2019 08:36
A move into the UK’s energy supplier market by oil major Royal Dutch Shell PLC (LON:RDSA) has thrown down the gauntlet not just to the ‘big six’ established suppliers but also for those in the sector trying to push toward renewable energy.
Shell Energy, formerly known as First Utility, will join energy brands such as Bulb and Octopus Energy in offering renewable electricity as standard, throwing the weight of one of the world’s biggest companies behind the green revolution.
Small-cap partner could benefit
While the UK’s renewable energy generators could be in line for a welcome boost with another major player entering the green energy supply race, a particular beneficiary among the small caps could be ITM Power PLC (LON:ITM).
ITM manufactures integrated hydrogen energy solutions to enhance the use of renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted, with its Power-to-Gas business provides PEM (proton exchange membrane) storage systems allowing customers to convert excess electrical energy into hydrogen for injection into the gas grid or storage for vehicles.
The group's clean fuels solutions, meanwhile, come in the form of modular hydrogen stations to recharge fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen-powered cars are seen as being far better for the environment in terms of emissions than those running on petrol, as when you burn hydrogen, it produces steam, meaning only water is the by-product.
Deep Dive: ITM Power making headway in the drive for clean fuel
ITM has already worked in partnership with Shell, having supplied the oil major with its first hydrogen refuelling station in the UK back in February 2017.
The firm is also working with Shell on the construction of the world’s largest hydrogen electrolysis plant at the Rhineland refinery in Germany, which will have a peak capacity of 10 megawatts.
ITM also has backing from the UK government, receiving £1.8mln from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles in February as part of a consortium to deliver a 0.5 megawatt (MW) refuelling station and 51 fuel cell electric vehicles.
Even though Shell Energy is not using hydrogen power straight off the bat, as the technology becomes better understood a wider rollout of the power source could be in the offing using ITM’s technology.
https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/217261/who-could-benefit-from-the-launch-of-shells-renewable-energy-supplier-217261.html
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