London-based hydrogen technology company Supercritical Solutions has signed a non-exclusive collaboration agreement with Shell Global Solutions International B.V., marking a key step in the development of its next-generation electrolyser technology.
The agreement centres on a paid feasibility study designed to support planning for a future pilot-scale demonstration. This work will include performance analysis, process safety assessments and a detailed techno-economic evaluation as Supercritical progresses its system from an advanced prototype toward real-world deployment.
The collaboration builds on a relationship that began in 2021 through Shell’s New Energy Challenge, an initiative supporting early-stage technologies with the potential to accelerate the energy transition. That relationship deepened in 2024 when Shell Ventures participated in Supercritical’s £14 million Series A funding round, alongside Toyota Ventures.
Tackling electrolyser cost and complexity
Supercritical is developing a patented, high-pressure electrolyser designed to overcome several limitations of conventional systems. Its technology targets delivery pressures of up to 220 bar without the need for hydrogen compressors, helping to improve overall system efficiency and reduce complexity.
By operating at elevated temperatures and pressures, the design eliminates the need for membranes and rare-earth materials that can suffer from degradation, supply constraints and cost volatility. The company says this approach could help lower the cost of renewable hydrogen and support faster adoption across industrial applications.
The technology is aimed in particular at sectors where hydrogen is typically required at high pressure, including chemicals, fertilisers and refining, as well as hard-to-electrify industries such as heavy-duty transport.
Industry demand and policy drivers
Global hydrogen demand reached close to 100 million tonnes in 2024, with the vast majority used in pressurised industrial processes. As decarbonisation policies such as the EU’s RED III framework and national net-zero targets gather pace, demand for cost-competitive low-carbon hydrogen solutions is expected to rise significantly.
Commenting on the agreement, Luke Tan said the collaboration represents a major milestone for the company’s commercialisation journey, helping to address both cost and complexity barriers in the renewable hydrogen market.
About Supercritical Solutions
Founded in London in 2020, Supercritical Solutions is developing ultra-efficient, high-pressure electrolysis systems to produce renewable hydrogen and oxygen. Its membrane-free, PFAS-free and iridium-free design delivers hydrogen at up to 220 bar and 99% purity, with the goal of enabling hydrogen deployment in the most emissions-intensive industrial sectors.
About Shell
Shell is a global energy and petrochemicals group operating in more than 70 countries. Alongside its traditional oil and gas activities, the company is investing in low-carbon energy solutions, technology development and new energy systems as part of its broader energy transition strategy.
Image credit: Supercritical Solutions
