Air Liquide and Shell sign a ten-year agreement for renewable electricity in Italy

Air Liquide has signed a ten-year contract with Shell Energy Europe Limited (SEEL) for the purchase of renewable energy to power industrial and medical gas production operations in the North East of Italy.

From 2023, and for ten years, Air Liquide will purchase 52 gigawatt-hours per year of solar photovoltaic renewable energy from Shell Energy Europe in Italy. The equivalent solar photovoltaic installed capacity necessary to deliver this quantity is 42 megawatt. The purchase of this renewable energy will allow Air Liquide to cover a large part of the electricity consumption for the production of industrial and medicinal gases in the North East of Italy. The agreement will result in around 24,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions being saved a year, comparable to the emissions generated by around 4,000 households.

Pascal Vinet, Senior Vice President and a member of the Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee supervising Europe Industries activities, 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. »

Rupen Tanna, General Manager for Power at Shell Energy Europe, 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. »

Air Liquide has previously signed agreements for renewable power in several geographies such as the United States, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. This new contract signed in Italy underlines Air Liquide's commitment to play a leading role in the energy transition and reduce its carbon footprint, in line with its sustainability objectives.

Shell Energy Europe is present in 14 European power markets, offtakes renewable power from wind farms and solar parks in mainland Europe and the UK, providing business customers with innovative, reliable and cleaner energy solutions and helping them navigate through the energy transition. Shell Energy Europe Limited acts through its agent, Shell Trading and Shipping Company Limited.