At the Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland, Shell Deutschland has launched a new plant for the production of bio-LNG, which is the largest of its kind in Germany. The facility has the capacity to produce about 100,000 tons of this low-CO2 fuel annually.
By using bio-LNG, between 4,000 and 5,000 LNG trucks can be fueled each year, leading to a reduction of up to one million tons of CO2. This initiative is part of Shell's strategy to create more value in the transportation sector while simultaneously reducing emissions. The commissioning of the plant in southern Cologne highlights Shell's commitment to advancing the decarbonization of heavy-duty transport.
As part of its vision for 2050, Shell aims to become a net-zero CO2 company. The focus of this transformation is on reducing and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions through investments in low-CO2 and CO2-free technologies and products, including green hydrogen, wind and solar energy, expanding the infrastructure for electric vehicles, and developing additional biofuels.
Felix Faber, Managing Director of Shell Deutschland, said: “We aim to serve the entire value chain for bio-LNG. For this purpose, Shell has already established a Europe-wide network with 90 filling stations for LNG trucks, including 36 stations in Germany. In 2022, we acquired Europe’s largest producer of biomethane from Denmark, NatureEnergy, and we are currently working on the construction of additional facilities in Germany. With the liquefier in Rheinland, we are not only advancing the transformation of the site but also adding an important building block to the value chain.”
Biomethane is a sustainable gas obtained from agricultural waste (manure, slurry, or organic residues). In the new plant, the gas is liquefied and delivered to Shell LNG stations where customers can refuel.