Shell signs 52GWh Italian solar PPA

Shell Energy Europe has signed a 10-year contract with Air Liquide to provide renewable electricity to power its industrial and medical gas production operations in north east Italy.

Under the agreement, from 2023 Air Liquide will purchase 52 gigawatt-hours of electricity a year, which will be sourced from Shell’s portfolio of solar power offtake agreements in Italy.

The electricity is the equivalent of installed capacity of 42MW and will power the production of a large proportion of Air Liquide’s industrial and medical gases in the north east of the country, according to Shell.

It added that this could save nearly 24,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year – equivalent to emissions generated by around 4000 households.

Air Liquide Group senior vice president Pascal Vinet said: "With this new contract, Air Liquide takes another step towards the energy transition, supplying its operations with ever-increasing amounts of renewable electricity.

"This agreement demonstrates, once again, our ability to provide our customers with solutions contributing to CO2 emissions reduction and illustrates the Group commitment to implement concrete actions to foster a low-carbon society, in line with our sustainability objectives."

Shell Energy Europe general manager Rupen Tanna said: "Across Shell Energy Europe, we are focused on delivering a range of clean power solutions to help customers reduce their emissions and we are delighted to help Air Liquide progress their decarbonisation goals.

"We have a growing portfolio of renewable energy and this supports the expansion of clean energy developments in countries where we operate."