AI-Powered Operational Use Cases for Shell's Critical Infrastructure | Energy Robotics
Energy Robotics × Shell · Autonomous Inspection

The Enterprise AI Platform
Powering Autonomous
Operations at Shell

Our platform enables Shell to operate facilities as fully connected, data-driven environments. By orchestrating a fleet of ground and aerial devices and integrating AI across all of them, we create a unified operational layer that continuously monitors, analyzes, and optimizes site performance — driving safer, more efficient, and more reliable operations at scale.

Three proven use cases. Real results across Shell Pernis, Rheinland, and Qatar. Running on your existing infrastructure — no new IT systems required.

234%
ROI at Rheinland
5.2mo
To full payback
150k
Inspections/month
11+
Shell sites live
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The Platform

A Unified Operating System
for Autonomous Operations

The Challenge
What's stopping operational excellence today
Manual rounds still dominate
No automation, no consistency. Safety-critical checks depend on shift availability — not schedule.
No trend data, just snapshots
Decisions are made on clipboard readings, not evidence. There's no mission analytics or predictive visibility.
People in harm's way
Operators exposed to Ex zones, elevated structures, and night shifts — when robots could do it safer and cheaper.
Three use cases. Proven at Shell.

What we deploy —
and what it delivers.

01
Ground-based · Shell Pernis, Netherlands
Safer Rounds — Autonomous Ground Inspection
Live since Q1 2021
+

At Shell Pernis — Shell's largest refinery in Europe — Energy Robotics replaced manual operator rounds with a fleet of 11 ATEX-certified ground robots running 24/7 autonomous missions. Night shifts were fully eliminated. Operators moved from hazardous field duty to exception-based management, with 5,000+ data points per week flowing directly into Shell's PI system — no new IT infrastructure required.

AI Skills Active
Gauge Reading Oil Level Readout Valve Detector Thermographic Analysis Gas Detection & Mapping Puddle Detector OCR Audio Analysis
Proven Result · Shell Pernis
Shell Pernis
Netherlands · Live since Q1 2021
24/7
Autonomous coverage — night shift fully eliminated
5,000+
Data points per week into PI system
120
Missions per week · 11 ATEX robots on site
02
Aerial · Shell Rheinland, Germany
Drone Tank Inspection — No Climbing Required
Live since Q1 2024
+

At Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland — Shell's largest site in Germany — 20 floating-roof tanks require inspection every 3 days to meet legal compliance. Manual inspection took 10 hours per cycle, required personnel to climb tanks, and created significant safety exposure. Energy Robotics deployed drones to automate the entire process, cutting cycle time to 31 minutes, delivering 234% ROI, and paying back in just 5.2 months.

AI Skills Active
Water on Tank Detection (Aerial) Thermographic Analysis Visual Recognition & AI Analysis Efflorescence Detector 3D-Lidar Mapping Data Import for AI Processing
Proven Result · Shell Rheinland
Shell Rheinland
Germany · Live since Q1 2024
234%
Return on investment — proven and documented
5.2 mo
Full payback period from go-live
10h → 31min
Inspection time per cycle — 95% reduction
03
Ground-based + Aerial · Shell Qatar Pearl GTL
Emissions Monitoring — Scalable from Day One
Live since Q2 2024
+

Shell Qatar Pearl GTL adopted the Energy Robotics platform using the same model proven at Shell Pernis — with direct relevance from Netherlands to Qatar. Running on Shell's existing TAS and IT infrastructure, the deployment required zero new systems, reached time-to-value in 3–5 months, and scaled to 2 sites with 3 devices from day one. Gas leak detection, emissions mapping, and safety response are now fully automated and integrated.

AI Skills Active
Gas Detection & Mapping Puddle Detector Fire Extinguisher Detector First Responder / Unmanned Ops Gauge Reading Thermographic Analysis
Proven Result · Shell Qatar
Shell Qatar Pearl GTL
Middle East · Live Q2 2024 + Q3 2025
3–5 mo
Time to full operational value
0
New IT systems required — runs on existing TAS + PI
2 sites
Scaled directly from Pernis model · 3 devices
The Platform

Works on what Shell already has.

1
Connects to existing infrastructure
No rip-and-replace. The platform integrates directly with Shell's PI and SAP systems, existing cameras, sensors, and TAS — nothing new to implement.
2
Autonomous data collection 24/7
Ground robots and drones run scheduled missions continuously — consistent, repeatable, independent of shift availability and human intervention.
3
AI turns data into decisions
Every safety-critical check is logged, timestamped, and AI-processed in real time. Operators manage by exception — not by walking hazardous rounds.
By the numbers

The scale of
Shell × Energy Robotics.

5+
Years partnering with Shell
11+
Shell sites live globally
30
Robots deployed at Shell
150k
Inspections per month
234%
ROI proven at Rheinland
100%
Growth year over year
Global Footprint

Shell sites running
Energy Robotics today.

Shell Pernis
Netherlands · Europe
Live2021
Shell Scotford
Alberta · Canada
Live2023
Shell Rheinland
Germany · Europe
Live2024
Shell Qatar Pearl GTL
Qatar · Middle East
Live2024
Shell Houston
Texas · USA
Live2024+
Shell Singapore
Asia
Live2024
LNG Canada
British Columbia · Canada
Live2025
Shell Ludwigshafen
Germany · Europe
Live2025
Shell Sarnia
Ontario · Canada
Live2026
Shell Polymer Monaca
Pennsylvania · USA
Live2026
Shell Brazil FPSO
Americas
Pilot2026
Shell Norco / Geismar
Louisiana · USA
Next?2026?
Success Story

Autonomous Inspection
at Shell Pernis.

Deployed at Shell Pernis, Netherlands — autonomous ground robots running 24/7 inspection missions, eliminating night shifts and feeding 5,000+ data points per week into Shell's PI system. Read case study →

Ready to bring this
to your Shell site?

Low investment. Fast payback. Running on your existing systems. Our team will walk you through a demo tailored to your specific Shell asset and operational context.

⬤ No new IT systems required  ·  ⬤ Time to value 3–5 months  ·  ⬤ Proven at 11+ Shell sites

Timm Schwitalsky
Timm Schwitalsky
Shell Global Account Director
Energy Robotics

Have a question before booking? Reach out directly — Timm leads all Shell accounts globally and will get back to you personally.

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