Advanced Ionics, the developer of a new class of green H₂ electrolyzers aimed at accelerating decarbonization, announced that Shell International Exploration and Production Inc. (Shell), through its Shell GameChanger program, will sponsor a pilot project. Shell will test Advanced Ionics’ water-vapor electrolyzer technology to produce low-cost H₂.

The project will support the scaling of Advanced Ionics’ second-generation, 800 cm² stack, which is the next step toward commercialization. Shell will test this system at its targeted parameters to demonstrate the suitability and applicability for its renewable H₂ needs and then potentially for ammonia production.

“The petrochemical industry will struggle to decarbonize without an economic path to producing and selling green H₂ and derivatives such as green ammonia,” said Chad Mason, CEO of Advanced Ionics. “Through our partnership with Shell GameChanger, we’re proving a new way to decrease the cost of green H₂ through more efficient, symbiotic operations.”

By 2050, global ammonia demand is expected to nearly quadruple from today’s market size, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. To address the growing demand and keep up with the needs of H₂ producers and consumers across various industries, Advanced Ionics developed the Early Access Program, which Shell is joining through this pilot project. The Early Access Program allows potential future customers to test out Advanced Ionics’ water-vapor electrolyzer for specific use cases and operating parameters while enabling a faster scale-up. Early access customers will be the first customers in Advanced Ionics’ pipeline of commercial-scale units when available.

“We’re excited to support Advanced Ionics through the Shell GameChanger program,” said Ed Holgate, Principal, Shell GameChanger. “Their innovative intermediate temperature technology, which utilizes available steam to reduce electricity consumption, promises to potentially enhance efficiency and sustainability in the petrochemical sector. Shell GameChanger is the perfect program to validate, de-risk, and nurture such groundbreaking solutions, providing the resources and expertise needed to bring them to market.”

Advanced Ionics’ Symbion™ Electrolyzer technology utilizes low-cost clean electricity and onsite process or waste heat to enable the production of green H₂ for less than a dollar per kilogram. By harnessing process or waste heat, Advanced Ionics can produce H₂ for 35 kWh/kg, up to 40% less electricity per kilogram of H₂ produced than alkaline and PEM technologies. The technology also matches the low capital costs associated with incumbent electrolyzer technologies already in the market today.