UK-based renewable hydrogen technology company Supercritical Solutions has signed a non-exclusive collaboration agreement with Shell Global Solutions International as it advances its electrolyser technology towards pilot-scale demonstration.
Announced on 8 January, the agreement underpins a paid technology feasibility study that will support evaluation and planning of a future pilot project. Scope of work includes performance data analysis, process safety assessment and a techno-economic evaluation.
The project builds on a relationship that began in 2021 through Shell’s New Energy Challenge, an initiative supporting early-stage energy technologies. Shell Ventures later invested in Supercritical’s £14m Series A funding round in 2024, which was co-led by Toyota Ventures.
Supercritical’s technology is also being evaluated in other industrial contexts this year, including a government-backed feasibility study with HAMR Energy on integrating its electrolysers into low-cost renewable methanol production for shipping and aviation applications.
The tie-up with Supercritical sits alongside Shell’s broader renewable hydrogen activity in Europe, such as the REFHYNE II project in Germany, where a 100 MW PEM electrolyser is being developed to supply renewable hydrogen at scale.
“REFHYNE II is a visible demonstration of our commitment to the hydrogen economy, which will play an important role in helping to decarbonise Shell’s operations and customer products,” said Shell’s Downstream, Renewables and Energy Solutions Director Huibert Vigeveno, who spoke in 2024.
London-based Supercritical is developing a high-pressure electrolyser designed to address limitations in conventional systems. Its patented technology operates at elevated pressure and temperature, targeting hydrogen delivery pressures of up to 220 bar without the need for hydrogen compressors.
The company says the design enables high system efficiency while removing reliance on rare-earth materials and membranes that can be prone to degradation and supply constraints.
Luke Tan, CEO of Supercritical, said, “We are directly addressing the cost and complexity barriers facing the renewable hydrogen market. We are excited to move forward with a company like Shell, whose global leadership has been proven to accelerate innovative technologies to market.”
Supercritical’s electrolyser is aimed at industrial hydrogen markets where high delivery pressure is required, including ammonia, methanol and refining.
Global hydrogen demand reached almost 100 million tonnes in 2024, with around 90% consumed at elevated pressures, according to the company. Policy measures such as the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive III and national net zero targets are expected to drive further demand for low-carbon hydrogen in hard-to-electrify sectors.
Founded in 2020, Supercritical Solutions is developing membrane-free, PFAS-free and iridium-free electrolysis technology, producing hydrogen at up to 220 bar and 99% purity. The company said its long-term aim is to lower the cost of renewable hydrogen and support decarbonisation across heavy industry.