Shell PLC is preparing to launch a sale of its offshore wind farms, marking the oil major's latest move away from renewable energy to focus on its higher-returning fossil fuel business. The company has tapped advisers from Rothschild & Co. and PJT Partners Inc. to lead the sale, which could fetch over US$1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak publicly. The process could kick off as soon as the end of this year, with a sale likely to take place in 2027.
Shift in Strategy Under New Leadership
Chief executive Wael Sawan has sought to cut costs and offload low-returning assets since taking over more than three years ago. The plan to sell the offshore farms marks a further departure from the British energy giant's past strategy to diversify into green electricity, with a strong emphasis on wind energy.
It follows the ongoing divestments of Shell's European onshore renewables arm, as well as Indian renewable power company Sprng Energy, which it bought in 2022 for US$1.55 billion. The company also walked away from plans to develop offshore wind farms in Scotland last year. Put together, the disposals will leave Shell with little left in its portfolio of green power assets.
From Ambition to Retreat
Shell once had grand ambitions to be a major player in renewable power, with one executive even floating a goal to turn the company into the world's biggest electricity producer. However, those plans were shelved after Sawan took the helm in early 2023 and vowed to focus more squarely on delivering returns for shareholders.
Representatives for Shell, Rothschild and PJT declined to comment. The sale underscores the ongoing tension between energy transition goals and shareholder value in the oil and gas industry.
