J2. Fossil Fuel Industry

Posted by John Donovan: 25 July 2024

In a move that can only be described as Shell saying, “Green energy? Never heard of her,” the oil giant has flatly denied ditching the green energy revolution. This denial comes hot on the heels of Labour’s ambitious £8 billion plan to launch a public energy company in Scotland, aimed at setting the country on a path to renewable glory.

Shell, fresh from raking in a casual £22.3 billion profit last year, is reportedly looking to offload its two floating wind projects, MarramWind and CampionWind, won through the ScotWind auction alongside Scottish Power. This, despite just receiving funding from SNP ministers for the Acorn carbon capture scheme. Because why invest in clean energy when you can just pay lip service and move on?

A Shell spokesperson, with a straight face, insisted, “Shell is wholly committed to the green energy transition,” amid rising accusations that oil and gas giants like Shell “cannot be trusted when it comes to climate action or a just transition.”

The UK government, always eager to join the fun, has unveiled its GB Energy plans, promising to pour £8.3 billion into clean power projects across the UK, with Scotland leading the charge. This follows the announcement of a potentially £60 billion partnership between GB Energy and the Crown Estate, aimed at bolstering the UK’s energy independence. Where will GB Energy be headquartered in Scotland? Still a mystery, folks.

Meanwhile, reports suggest Shell could sell its 5GW ScotWind projects, which include MarramWind (up to 3GW) and CampionWind (2GW). Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Rosie Hampton hit the nail on the head, saying, “Shell is showing once again that it cannot be trusted when it comes to climate action or a just transition. Its priorities are still drilling for as much dirty fossil fuel as possible regardless of the devastating climate impacts.”

Adding to the irony, Shell boasted about its £4.3 billion investment in low-carbon measures in 2023. Because apparently, throwing a fraction of your obscene profits at green projects makes everything okay. “Shell is wholly committed to becoming a net zero emissions energy business by 2050,” they claim, while simultaneously eyeing a profitable exit from renewables.

As the UK government pushes its Great British Energy Bill and Labour promises a clean energy revolution, it seems Shell is content to play its part in the grand theater of greenwashing. So, here’s to Shell: the master of saying one thing and doing another, all while making a tidy profit. Cheers to your commitment to the planet, or rather, to your pockets.

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In response to Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso releasing the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 this week, Allie Rosenbluth, US Manager at Oil Change International said:

“Don’t be fooled: the Energy Permitting Reform Act is another dirty deal to fast-track fossil fuels above all else. It would unleash more drilling on federal lands and waters, unnecessarily rush the review of proposed oil and gas export projects, and lift the Biden administration’s pause on new LNG exports. 

“The International Energy Agency has made it clear: no new fossil fuel project is compatible with a livable future. The United States already leads the world in oil and gas production and is failing to live up to its climate commitments.

“This bill is yet another dangerous attempt by Senator Manchin to line the pockets of his fossil fuel donors, sacrificing communities and our climate along the way. We urge Congress to reject this proposal and commit to action that protects frontline communities from the impacts of fossil fuel development and the climate crisis.”

The post Congress Must Stop Joe Manchin’s Dirtiest Deal appeared first on Oil Change International.

Posted by John Donovan: 25 July 2024

In a move that’s probably more about headlines than heart, Shell announced on Thursday it’s building a 100-megawatt renewable hydrogen electrolyser in Germany. Yes, that’s right, the same Shell that adores oil spills and carbon emissions is now pretending to care about the environment. The new unit at the Rheinland refinery is scheduled to start in 2027 and will pump out up to 44,000 kg of renewable hydrogen daily to “partially” decarbonize site operations. Because who needs full decarbonization when partial will do?

Shell is also dangling the carrot of renewable hydrogen possibly, maybe, potentially being supplied to lower industrial emissions in the region as customer demand evolves. In other words, they’ll wait until the public kicks up a fuss before doing anything meaningful.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Shell is busy constructing the Holland Hydrogen I project with a capacity of 200 megawatts. This is one of Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen plants under construction. But let’s not forget, this is the same company that, under CEO Wael Sawan, has been busy scrapping, selling, and retreating from renewable projects faster than a cat from a cucumber. Since taking office in January 2023, Sawan has focused on the most profitable operations, primarily oil and gas, while giving renewable energy the cold shoulder.

Despite all the greenwashing, Shell plans to invest a whopping US$10 billion to US$15 billion in low-carbon energy by 2025. For context, in 2023, they splurged US$5.6 billion on low-carbon energy, with a generous 23% of that being capital spending. So, while they’re busy patting themselves on the back for these token efforts, the real money is still pouring into the fossil fuels that keep our planet toasty.

So, here’s to Shell and their half-hearted attempt at sustainability. Cheers to your renewable hydrogen plant, and may it one day make up for all the environmental damage you’ve done. But we won’t hold our breath.

Shell’s Big Green PR Stunt: Building a Hydrogen Plant While Still Loving Oil was first posted on July 25, 2024 at 3:23 pm.
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