Shell, Equinor, US Steel to pursue clean energy hub

Global gas majors Shell and Equinor, along with US Steel, said August 16 they had struck a non-exclusive collaboration agreement to explore the creation of a clean energy hub in the Ohio-West Virginia-Pennsylvania tri-state region, in the heart of the Appalachia basin.

The hub will focus on decarbonisation opportunities featuring carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen production and utilisation, generating new jobs, stimulating economic growth and helping achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions.

“Establishing a low carbon hub in this region could have a profound impact on both the climate and the economy, creating sustainable jobs that will support families for many years to come,” said Grete Tveit, senior vice president at Equinor Low Carbon Solutions. “For 14 years we have been engaged and investing in this region, and our significant equity gas production in the Appalachia region has proved to be an important low carbon asset in our portfolio.”

To support the hub’s development, Shell and Equinor will jointly apply for US Department of Energy funding designated for the creation of regional clean energy hubs. US Steel is evaluating the role it might play in the hub, including as a potential funding participant, customer, supplier or partner.

“US Steel is investing significant resources to achieve the sustainability goals in our Best for All^® strategy, and we know we cannot do it all alone,” said Richard Fruehauf, US Steel’s chief strategy and sustainability officer. “Successfully addressing the climate crisis requires public and private collaborations.”