(EnergyAsia, March 11 2011, Friday) — Shell Global Solutions International BV and Shanghai-based Wison Engineering Ltd have started jointly developing a low-cost ‘hybrid’ gasification demonstration plant in China. They are also collaborating on the technology’s design and marketing, and the development of other coal gas technologies.

Shell said the hybrid technology, known as ‘dry-feed, bottom-water quench,’ integrates its novel coal gasification design with state-of-the-art bottom-water quench technology, allowing them to process a wider range of feedstock, offer a simplified design at lower cost, and provide more competitive solutions for customers.

The hybrid gasifiers promise to expand the market for syngas – the main product of the gasification process – into the chemicals, hydrogen and fertiliser industries.

Michiel Mak, Shell vice president for gasification, said:

“Hybrid gasification offers an environmentally sound solution at moderate costs for our customers to efficiently upgrade low-cost feedstock, such as coal, to more valuable products.”

Liu Haijun, Wison Wison chief operations officer, said:

“As a fast emerging, one-stop engineering service provider, Wison owns both practical experiences and research and development (R&D) facilities for coal chemical production and operations. The joint R&D and marketing cooperation with Shell is in line with our development strategy. This cooperation will lead to greater success in the future and make further contributions to clean and efficient utilisation of China’s vast coal resources.”

Shi Xiaoli, clean coal director of Shell Companies in China, said:

“R&D collaborations with Chinese partners to advance technology are key priorities of Shell’s strategy in China. This allows us to leverage the strong capabilities of our Chinese partners and grow business together. The new contract with Wison is an important building block towards our strategic goals.”

Shell companies have operations in more than 90 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production, production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas-to-liquids, and manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals.

Shell Global Solutions International BV is a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

Wison Engineering Ltd, a subsidiary of Wison Group Holding Ltd, is a leader in petrochemical, coal chemical and oil refining unit engineering. It provides engineering project services covering consultation, design, procurement, construction management and EPC, project management, startup training and production operations.

Wison Group has offices in more than 10 cities in China and worldwide, employing nearly 3,000 employees. The group has 13 subsidiaries constituting four main business units including energy services, marine and offshore, clean energy and emerging business.