Shell Renewables is one of five core businesses of the Shell Group, established to develop commercial opportunities in solar and wind energy. Shell Renewables has been established to develop businesses which can contribute to meeting the world's ever-growing energy needs from renewable resources.

This is not new territory for Shell; it is a scaling-up. Shell has been assessing renewable technologies for almost 20 years. Shell is confident that its technology, together with its commercial expertise, can make a significant and profitable market impact.

Shell Solar, which is now the fourth largest PV Company in the world, has world-class operations in both research & development and manufacturing, and employs around 1100 people. The Group announced in 2003 that it would invest US$0.5 billion to US$1 billion over the next five years, subject to ongoing economic review, primarily in solar and wind energy.

Shell Solar has PV manufacturing facilities with a total yearly capacity of some 120MW of solar panels:
•  Ingot growing and wafers in Vancouver , Washington , USA ;
•  Mono crystalline cells and modules in Camarillo , California , USA ;
•  Multi crystalline cells and modules in Helmond , the Netherlands , and multi crystalline cells at its factory in Gelsenkirchen , Germany ;
•  A second cell production line at Gelsenkirchen .

Shell Solar has access to both mono and multi crystalline cell technologies (the current main stream solar cell technologies) and to thin film technology (the technology of the future, for which Shell Solar has an operational production line in Camarillo , California ).

Shell Solar has supplied solar cells and modules with a peak power of almost 250 MW. This represents around one fifth of total solar power installed worldwide.

In April 2001 a joint venture company was formed, merging all of Siemens Solar with Shell's solar business in Germany to create Siemens und Shell Solar GmbH. The shareholdings established were 33% Shell, 33% E.On and 34% Siemens. At that time it was also announced that Shell would contribute all of its remaining solar business before the end of 2002 and that Shell would have the option to become the largest shareholder. This has now happened, with Shell taking over 100% and renaming the company Shell Solar.