Shell (RDS.A) Signs MoU to Develop Hydrogen Facility in Norway

Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS.A) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Aker Clean Hydrogen and CapeOmega to explore the development of a large-scale hydrogen facility at Aukra on the west coast of Norway.

The proposed hydrogen facility will produce blue hydrogen from natural gas, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The natural gas will be supplied from Shell’s Nyhamna gas processing terminal in Aukra, which receives gas from its Ormen Lange gas-condensate field in the Norwegian Sea.

The facility will use the steam methane reforming method to break natural gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, the latter of which will be captured and stored permanently. Notably, hydrogen is considered clean when produced from natural gas.

Aker Clean Hydrogen and the municipality of Aukra have been seeking opportunities to develop a hydrogen-production facility in western Norway. Earlier this year, Aker Clean Hydrogen obtained exclusive rights for the clean hydrogen project to explore and develop a facility for the production of hydrogen, ammonia and related products in Aukra.

Countries across Europe are exploring ways to produce emission-free hydrogen to reduce emissions and avoid the consequences of climate change. Hence, Shell joined the clean hydrogen project, which intends to produce hydrogen by drawing natural gas from the gas processing terminal at Nyhamna.

The facility is expected to become a major supplier of alternative fuels for the shipping industry. Clean hydrogen can help decarbonize local industries, and be used as a sustainable fuel for ships and vehicles or be exported to Europe.

Above all, the project fits well with the Norway government’s strategy to develop hydrogen and create long-term value from the country’s energy resources. Shell aims to become a net-zero emission business by 2050. Its uniting efforts with the Norway-based firms to work on the exciting opportunity are helping it achieve its net-zero target.

Company Profile & Price Performance

Shell is one of the primary oil majors — a group of U.S. and Europe-based big energy multinationals — with global operations. The company is fully integrated, as it participates in every aspect related to energy from oil production to refining and marketing.

Shares of the company have underperformed the industry in the past six months. Its stock has declined 5.9% against the industry’s 5.1% growth.

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Zacks Rank & Stock to Consider

The company currently carries a Zack Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked players in the energy space are Baker Hughes Company BKR, Repsol SA REPYY and EOG Resources, Inc. EOG, each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Baker Hughes’ earnings for 2021 are expected to rise 54.3% year over year.

Repsol’s earnings for 2021 are expected to grow 10.6% year over year.

EOG Resources’ earnings for 2021 are expected to increase 9.9% year over year.

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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.