IHS Product Design with IHS Goldfire

Shell Innovates the Biofuel Market with Marine Algae

This group of oil, gas and petrochemical companies has interests in a variety of renewable energy sources and has become the world’s largest distributor of biofuels – exploring ideas to accelerate potential development of a commercially-feasible and climate-friendly biofuel from marine algae.

Challenge

• Develop next-generation biofuels and alternative processes
• Identify and refine concepts for commercializing marine algae as biofuel

Solution
IHS Product Design with IHS Goldfire®
Results

• Explored new concepts for next-generation biofuels, leading to the concept of marine algae — to most, an unexpected solution to the world’s energy needs
• Used software to collaborate on the creation of sophisticated function models
• Accelerated innovative thinking regarding a commercially-feasible and climate-friendly biofuel from algae
• Formed a joint venture with HR Biopetroleum, called Cellana, to provide the first platform for commercial development and potential deployment worldwide
• Shell took this challenge as an exercise in innovation. Making full use of IHS Goldfire, the optimal decision engine, the Shell team explored new concepts for next-generation biofuels, leading to the concept of marine algae—to most, an unexpected solution to the world’s energy needs.

Customer quote
"IHS Goldfire’s functional modeling was one of the most important software capabilities—stimulating important thinking to create, then realize this concept. We’ve had an entirely useful and positive experience with IHS Goldfire- Ian Archibald, Algea Fuel Development, Shell Global Solutions".