Artificial Intelligence in Practice

47Shell: Using Artificial Intelligence To Tackle The Energy Transition

Royal Dutch Shell started out as a shop selling seashells and is, as of 2018, the world's fifth largest company by revenue.¹ Its activities span the whole fuel supply chain from exploration and drilling to refining and retail. Shell is a world leader of end-to-end fuel production – exploration, mining, refinery and retail – including oil, gas, biofuel, wind and solar.

A major challenge it is facing right now is energy transition – the move away from fossil fuels towards cleaner sources of energy. However, it maintains that renewables cannot yet supply all of the energy needed by us to function at our current level of activity and comfort.

Striving to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) throughout its business means covering both of these positions. Therefore, Shell investigates smart technological solutions to both fossil fuel mining to drive efficiencies, which in itself cuts emissions, and to its objectives in renewables.

What Problem Is Artificial Intelligence Helping To Solve?

Experts agree that the future of driving is likely to be electric, and reconsidering our relationship with the internal combustion engine has a big part to play in hitting climate change targets.

But one of the reasons most commonly given by drivers for delaying the change is due to a lack of roadside charging facilities.²

Shell is working to increase its RechargePlus charging stations but the “rush-hour” pattern of driving ...