“We have set out to make a significant contribution to the energy transition in Germany.”
We spoke to Michael Pomrehn, Customer Centricity Manager B2B/B2G at Shell Germany, which is our partner this year. He gave us exciting insights into transformations that Shell is striving for in order to create more clean energy and mobility solutions.
1. Why does Shell see a high relevance in innovative solutions for the decarbonization of cities and municipalities?
As one of the most important energy companies in the market, Shell is clearly and emphatically backing the Paris climate targets with its “Powering Progress” strategy and has set out to make a significant contribution to the energy transition in Germany. Given Shell’s global goal of becoming a net-zero emissions company by 2050, one focus is on options for shaping urban space and developing sustainable city concepts to address resource pressures from population growth while providing cleaner ways to power homes and vehicles for ever-growing urban areas.
2. How does Shell intend to support these developments?
Shell takes a user-centric approach and works with urban developers to develop and test innovative concepts, scenarios, technologies, and business models in real-life settings. Based on expected developments, Shell is transforming its own portfolio, relying more on commercial and public partnerships to jointly drive progress by providing more and cleaner energy and mobility solutions.
3. What concrete solutions does Shell offer for cities and municipalities?
Plenty of sustainable solutions are already available today. In the electricity sector in particular, Shell is aiming for strong growth and considering the expansion of its business holistically, starting with wind turbines or solar panels to actively promote the expansion of renewable energy supplies, and moving on to offerings that help customers make the switch. Decentralized concepts can also play an ever more important role. For example, we offer our customers the sonnenBatterie battery storage system for domestic solar power systems through Shell subsidiaries, and we also ensure the networking of decentralized renewable power production through Next Kraftwerke.
But we also know that electromobility is becoming ever more important in mobility concepts, especially in urban areas. With Shell Recharge, for example, we already offer electric car subscriptions and access to fast-charging stations at Shell stations, plus a range of innovative charging points for customers at home, at work, or at public street lamps.
In the long term, hydrogen-related products and services will play just as important a role. To this end, we are working with partners to set up a pan-European hydrogen infrastructure for heavy-duty transport and are developing the industry’s first medium-duty fuel cell truck (14-18t, incl. trailer 24t) in the “Next Mobility Accelerator”.
4. You have spoken a lot about your customer offers. What changes can you observe in your company?
In addition to our customer offers, Shell also implements its own sustainability concepts. A key element of this in Germany is the transformation of the Shell Energy & Chemicals Park Rheinland. There, the Wesseling site is to become crude-oil-free from the mid-2020s. In the future, the raw material petroleum will be replaced with the help of new or repurposed systems. For more zero-carbon or low-carbon products, hydrogen, circular waste materials, and biogenic feedstocks are increasingly being used.
5. Thank you for the insights into Shell’s transformation. In closing, can you tell us why you are an exhibitor at HEY/HAMBURG?
HEY/HAMBURG offers ideal conditions for building networks, strengthening partnerships and discovering new opportunities for cooperation. After all, the energy transition can only be seen through in a strong alliance, and it demands a willingness to take part by everyone involved. That is why we are joining this innovative format and want to bring the energy and mobility transition into the realm of the feasible. Because, Germany has the energy to change!
HEY/HAMBURG powered by SHIFT Mobility
supported by Handelskammer Hamburg
Keyword: Michael Pomrehn in the HEY/HAMBURG interview