Control of the steelworks was wrested from the control of controversial British steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta in February this year, with the South Australian Government forcing the steelworks into administration.

The steelworks is now being propped up by the state and federal governments while administrator KordaMentha seeks bids from potential new owners, with names such as BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) in the mix.

Another company that has put its name in the ring is global steelmaking raw materials and mining services company M Resources, which, according to its website, turns over about US$1 billion a year, trading more than 20 million tonnes of commodities.

Hydrogen solution the key

Hazer said on Friday that its technology had been selected by M Resources to be part of its bid, as a "low-cost, decarbonisation solution".

The company said it had signed a memorandum of understanding to be part of the M Resources bid to operate Whyalla.

The company added:

Under the partnership, Hazer's proprietary methane pyrolysis technology, in conjunction with KBR, has been incorporated on an exclusive basis into M Resources' proposal for Whyalla, significantly strengthening the envisioned development of a revitalised, low carbon emissions steelmaking hub in South Australia.

Hazer said the M Resources bid to operate the steelworks "prioritises an economically viable long-term industrial renewal with a strong emphasis on carbon abatement''.

Hazer's technology, producing clean hydrogen and high-value graphite from methane, is well positioned to play an enabling role in the establishment of a low-carbon emissions steel manufacturing precinct at Whyalla.

Hazer technology adaptable

Under the memorandum of understanding, the companies have agreed to collaborate on how to integrate Hazer's technology into the direct reduction process – a key part of the proposed revitalisation of the steelworks in which hydrogen will replace natural gas in the process used to make iron ore pellets.

In addition, Hazer Graphite will be used in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) to produce steel. The planned Hazer facility is expected to target large-scale commercial hydrogen production capacity with additional synergies coming from the use of an iron-ore catalyst in the Hazer process.

Hazer Managing Director Glenn Corrie said the partnership with M Resources was "a clear demonstration of the Hazer Process's ability to integrate into steelmaking, particularly through the use of low-cost clean hydrogen for direct iron reduction and the application of Hazer graphite in electric arc furnaces''.

Hazer shares traded as high as 52.5 cents on the news, up 28%, before settling back to be 20.7% higher at 49.5 cents.

The company was valued at $108.8 million at the close of trade on Thursday.

The post Whyalla steelworks connection puts a rocket under this resources tech stock's shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX hydrogen hopeful is eyeing an 8.7% jump in its shares, hitting 50 cents apiece as the sun approaches the horizon. It casts a bold contrast to the red path being trekked by the likes of Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), and AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL).

While Hazer shares are basking in enthusiasm today, the share price remains 17% below where it was situated a year ago, as shown above.

Why is the Hazer share price leaping?

Prior to the opening bell, Hazer informed investors of the latest milestone in its commercial demonstration plant (CDP).

This is a project that has been in the works for a few years, receiving final investment approval in July 2020.

At the time, Hazer described the demo plant as a 100-tonne per annum low-emission hydrogen production facility.

Its completion would demonstrate the company's 'Hazer process' as commercially viable. Moreover, it could generate revenue through the sale of its hydrogen. Generating revenue from operations would be beneficial for the Hazer share price.

Today, Hazer announced that the CDP remains on schedule to commence production of hydrogen and graphitic carbon (Phase 2) in 2023. This information is positive in isolation, given the susceptibility to delays and cost blowouts.

Additionally, reactor fabrication and site installation were said to have 'materially progressed'. This entailed the main welding works, including the post-weld heat treatment of the hot reactor. The fabrication quality has been checked and passed after conducting non-destructive testing.

The CDP still awaits the installation of the hot reactor to arrive at mechanical completion. Following this, Hazer will flick it on and conduct commissioning.

Hazer CEO and managing director explained the magnitude of this, stating:

Another important milestone achieved as we drive towards the start-up of our Commercial Demonstration Plant. The commercial demonstration of our technology positions Hazer as the leading provider of low-cost and low emissions hydrogen to customers needing a viable near-term decarbonisation solution.

Based on the current Hazer share price, the hydrogen player holds a market capitalisation of $99 million.

The post Hazer share price rockets 9% on 'important' hydrogen milestone appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Starting a new industry from scratch is not easy, but several ASX companies are moving into the space. They include Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG), Pure Hydrogen Corporation Ltd (ASX: PH2) and Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR).

Different businesses have different plans for their hydrogen production.

Hazer wants to use a "low-emission hydrogen and graphitic carbon production process". This involves converting natural gas (predominately methane) and similar feedstocks into hydrogen and "high-quality advanced carbon materials". The process would use iron ore as a catalyst.

Meanwhile, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) wants to make 'green hydrogen' through electrolysis using water and renewable energy.

What's holding back hydrogen?

While many companies in Australia and worldwide want to be involved in the hydrogen sector, some experts have pointed to hurdles that need to be overcome. These were outlined recently at the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association annual conference, according to reporting by The Australian.

The conference heard that the sectors faced challenges such as customer demand for the many proposed hydrogen projects around the world and how to safely and cost-efficiently transport the gas once produced.

The BloombergNEF senior associate of hydrogen, Kathy Xitong Gao, said:

This is the real struggle for hydrogen right now, the slow pick-up from the demand side. The transportation of hydrogen is a big issue, and to liquefy hydrogen is still very, very expensive. It's around $US5 to $US7 per kilogram, so it's very expensive.

Deloitte partner Matthew Walden said that low-emission hydrogen was "emerging as a key element in the pathway to net zero", but costs and regulatory issues remained. Walden said:

Important mechanisms to achieve this include the implementation of targets and mandates for low-emission hydrogen production and uptake.

What progress has been made?

Earlier in May, the Australian Government announced a $2 billion 'hydrogen headstart' initiative to help the "biggest green hydrogen projects to be built in Australia". This funding will:

… provide revenue support for investment in renewable hydrogen production through competitive production contracts. Funding will cover the commercial gap between the cost of hydrogen production from renewables and its current market price.

It will support two to three flagship projects, though there hasn't been any confirmation of which projects will be helped yet.

One ASX hydrogen share that's making progress is Fortescue. Its FFI business was pleased to announce last year it had signed an agreement with E.ON to deliver up to 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen to Europe by 2030. However, not all of this green hydrogen may necessarily come from Australia.

FFI has also signed an agreement with JCB and Ryze Hydrogen to supply those two UK businesses with 10% of FFI's global green hydrogen production. This was heralded as a "multi-billion pound deal".

While FFI is working on a global portfolio of green hydrogen production projects, it has also revealed it's working with energy infrastructure developer Tree Energy Solutions (TES) to develop the TES green energy hub in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. It aims to start receiving green hydrogen deliveries in 2026.

Time will tell how successful Australia, FFI and other ASX hydrogen shares are at producing low-emission hydrogen and transporting that to the world.

The post 'The real struggle': Can an ASX investment in hydrogen really pay off? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The budget saw $2 billion set aside to accelerate Australia's renewable hydrogen industry.

That's good news for Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG). The company's hydrogen venture Fortescue Future Industries is aiming to be a leader in the space.

The Fortescue share price is up 0.5% right now, trading at $20.68.

Meanwhile, shares in fellow hydrogen-focused stocks Pure Hydrogen Corporation Ltd (ASX: PH2) and Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR) are putting the iron ore giant's gains to shame.

Stock in Pure Hydrogen is surging 11.4% to trade at 19.5 cents at the time of writing while those in Hazer are leaping 6.9% to reach 69.5 cents.

For comparison, the benchmark All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is slipping 0.1%.

Let's take a closer look at the government spending that's seemingly putting wind under the renewable energy-focused ASX shares on Wednesday.

Labor reveals $2b Hydrogen Headstart program

It's an exciting day for those invested in ASX hydrogen shares. The federal government revealed its $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart program alongside its 2023 budget last night.

In last night's speech to parliament, treasurer Jim Chalmers said:

Hydrogen power means Wollongong, Gladstone and Whyalla, can make and export everything from renewable energy to green steel. Seizing these kinds of industrial and economic opportunities will be the biggest driver and determinant of our future prosperity.

The Hydrogen Headstart program makes up half of the $4 billion new renewable energy spend announced as part of this year's budget.

It aims to scale up the development of Australia's hydrogen industry by providing revenue support for large-scale renewable hydrogen projects through competitive production contracts.

A joint release from Chalmers, minister for climate change and energy Chris Bowen, and assistant minister for climate change and energy Jenny McAllister reads:

These [contracts] will help bridge the commercial gap for early projects and put Australia on course for up to a gigawatt of electrolyser capacity by 2030 through two to three flagship projects.

They said Australia's path to net zero is dependent on the renewable energy source, which can be combusted for industrial heat, used as a chemical input for green manufacturing and as a fuel for heavy transport, or exported.

Fortescue has welcomed the move, saying it "demonstrates how seriously the government is taking the green hydrogen industry and its critical role in Australia's future".

How have ASX hydrogen shares been performing in 2023

Apparent budget-related gains aside, ASX hydrogen shares have been putting out a mixed performance so far this year.

Leading the pack is the Hazer share price, which has gained 25% since the start of 2023.

Meanwhile, that of Pure Hydrogen has lifted 3% and Fortescue stock is up 1% year to date.

Comparatively, the All Ordinaries Index has increased 4% since the new year began.

The post ASX hydrogen shares surge on 2023 federal budget $2b cash splash appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As some jumped close to 70%, others dumped a quarter of their value.

And while all that was happening, the broader market stayed relatively flat. The benchmark All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) fell just 1% over the three months ended 30 September.

So, what went on with some of the market's most notable ASX hydrogen shares in the September quarter? Let's take a look.

Peaks and troughs for ASX hydrogen shares in Q1

ASX hydrogen shares put on a mixed performance over the first quarter, with some, like Frontier Energy Ltd (ASX: FHE), posting major gains.

The Frontier Energy share price lifted 68% over the period, closing September at 37 cents.

The company worked to secure a water supply needed to produce green hydrogen using energy from its Western Australia-based Bristol Springs Solar Project.

Its agreement with Water Corporation – announced on Thursday – will save the company from kicking off its back-up plan – building a desalination facility.

The Province Resources Ltd (ASX: PRL) share price also had a great quarter, gaining 54% to trade at 8 cents.

The big news from the company behind the HyEnergy Project last quarter came in August when it announced it had secured an additional 2,217 square kilometres of land for the project.

The Pure Hydrogen Corporation Ltd (ASX: PH2) share price also had a good run in the September quarter, gaining 23% to close the period at 27 cents.

However, the quarter wasn't a good one for every major ASX hydrogen share.

The Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR) share price dumped 25% over the period, slumping to trade at 57 cents.

The major drag on the stock was news a critical part of its demonstration plant had failed, delaying the company's planned hydrogen production until 2023. The stock fell 17% on the back of the news.

And while most of its income comes from non-hydrogen sources, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) iron ore giant behind hydrogen-focused Fortescue Future Industries, Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), saw its share price fall 4% last quarter.

The post There were big winners and losers among ASX hydrogen shares in Q1. Here's the lowdown appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

We've all heard about lithium-ion (li-io) batteries – it's been hard not to – and the (emission-free) glamour that surrounds the electric vehicle space.

It's no coincidence some of the best-performing ASX shares in 2022 are tied to lithium.

Then there are the other 'traditional' sources of renewable energy: solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear, etc.

It really is a new marketplace. Yet, the geopolitical fallback still involves hydrocarbons: oil and gas.

However, one form of clean energy you mightn't be so familiar with is hydrogen.

Hydrogen is also doing the rounds and making a name for itself as a hot (or cold?) contender for top spot in the green energy stakes.

Let's take a deep dive into the sector to strip out the fluff and put some flesh on the skeleton of the ASX hydrogen space. Read on.

Hydrogen for fuel?

Hydrogen is a chemical element with the easy-to-remember symbol 'H'. It is, in fact, the lightest element on the periodic table.

In practical terms, it is a highly combustible and flammable gas that – like natural gas – can also be condensed into a liquid, albeit at roughly minus 253 degrees Celsius.

Hydrogen is found just about everywhere in nature. In particular, water (the classic H2O) and hydrocarbons, like methane, are very common sources.

The gas can also be produced from a variety of sources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, and even renewable energy like solar.

This gives rise to hydrogen's 'green' credentials as hydrogen produced by electrolysis is a more energy-intensive process.

According to the United States Energy Department (USED), "Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can be used to store, move, and deliver energy produced from other sources".

Hydrogen is also faring as a contender to power fuel cells of non-combustion engines. It can, as USED says, "power fuel cells in zero-emission vehicles".

But just how efficient and effective is hydrogen at powering vehicles? And how does it stack up compared to 'traditional' fuel sources like oil?

Actually, quite well. According to USED:

A fuel cell coupled with an electric motor is 2–3 times more efficient than an internal combustion engine running on gasoline.

The energy in 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of hydrogen gas is about the same as the energy in 1 gallon (2.8 kilograms) of gasoline.

So then, does it have any advantage over lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries?

It seems to boil down to two factors: distance and refuelling time.

According to sustainability publisher youmatter: "While most fully electric vehicles can travel between [160–320 kilometres] on a single charge, hydrogen ones can get to [482 kilometres]."

However, there is far less of a gap when comparing premium lithium-ion EV batteries to the best hydrogen fuel cells. Indeed, most prominent EV manufacturers have opted to proceed down the battery-powered technology path.

Interesting debate

The push to discover and develop new forms of fuel for transport has sparked an interesting debate. While hydrogen is abundant on earth, it must undergo a process to separate it into its pure form, and then compress it into fuel cells.

Meanwhile, developing lithium-ion battery technology has led to a wave of new mining ventures on a global scale. Indeed, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says the auto industry will require 30 times the current amount of minerals to meet demand.

We are already seeing the effect this imbalance in supply and demand is causing. The price of lithium hit all-time highs again this week. There are also questions on the ongoing availability of these critical minerals.

And so the debate turns to what's going to be the best at powering vehicles looking ahead, from a cost and feasibility perspective.

Australian mining figure Andrew Forrest, founder of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG), has been leading the hydrogen charge both on our shores and abroad via his investment vehicle Fortescue Future Industries (FFI).

Forrest is aiming to produce 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen by the year 2030, in line with targets set by the European Commission.

When quizzed on how he intends to finance the ambitious goal, he told The Financial Times Hydrogen Summit: "Look, I built $50 billion worth of iron ore infrastructure in the Pilbara…I am very used to executing large capital projects at a cost that is a fraction of what our competitors do," The Financial Times reported.

He also took a shot at prominent lithium-ion battery proponents, adding: "[Tesla CEO] Elon Musk knows that almost every time a Tesla is plugged into almost every grid in the world, it is just burning coal and oil and gas…[and] it is doing nothing for the environment."

What's all this mean for ASX hydrogen shares?

Whilst there's plenty to like about the future of hydrogen, it hasn't yet made its mark on the ASX. In fact, the sub-sector continues to face heavy selling pressure.

Shares of Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR), a company that conducts research and development into hydrogen-producing technology, are down 45% this year to date.

In July, the Hazer share price was crushed when the company reported a part for its commercial demonstration project had failed during fabrication.

Meanwhile, shares of Pure Hydrogen Corporation (ASX: PH2) have also headed south and are down 52% since January.

In contrast to the speculative mania setting the lithium/electric vehicle space alight over the past two years, the hydrogen fuel camp hasn't secured anywhere near the hype.

The returns for both of these ASX hydrogen shares are plotted on the chart below against the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ), in red, over the past 12 months.

The diversion in performance is abundantly clear, perhaps as abundant as hydrogen is in the environment.

The post Are ASX hydrogen shares worth buying right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A part needed to progress work at the company's Hazer Commercial Demonstration Project has critically failed during fabrication. The plant is expected to be the first fully integrated demonstration of the HAZER Process, developed by the company to convert natural gas into hydrogen and graphite using iron ore as a catalyst.

The failure is expected to delay the company's targeted production from the end of this year to sometime in 2023.

At the time of writing, the Hazer share price is 70 cents, 16.67% lower than its previous close.

Let's take a closer look at the news weighing on the technology developer's stock today.

Hazer share price plunges amid likely production delay

The Hazer share price is tumbling today on news its next step towards production has hit a major roadblock.

A part that was to be installed at the company's Western Australia-based demonstration plant suffered a critical failure during fabrication.

The part – a high-temperature heat-exchanger – is needed to kick-start the second phase of the plant's testing program: Hot operating mode.

Hazer CEO Geoff Ward acknowledged the news is "very disappointing" and vowed to investigate the matter thoroughly.   

Hazer is looking for potential remedies hidden among its contract terms and insurances.

In the meantime, it will continue working on the plant's first phase – cold operations. That will progress over the next three to six months.

There is slither of good news in today's release from Hazer, however. A hot-wall reactor vessel – also needed to move the plant into hot operations – is nearly completed. The part is expected to arrive in Australia this quarter.

Today's news sees the Hazer share price handing back some of the gains won on the completion of commissioning at the demonstration plant last month.

The stock has fallen 38% since the start of 2022.

The post Here's why the Hazer share price just crashed 17% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's how some of the market's favourite ASX hydrogen-focused shares performed last month:

• Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) – down 12.8%
• Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR) – down 3.8%
• Pure Hydrogen Corporation (ASX: PH2) – down 37.14%
• Sparc Technologies Ltd (ASX: SPN) – down 31.18%
• APA Group (ASX: APA) – down 0.97%

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 8.9% last month while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) slumped 9.5%.

So, what news did these ASX hydrogen shares announce in June? Read on to find out.

The latest news from ASX hydrogen shares

Some of the market's favourite hydrogen shares had a poor month's trade in June despite plenty of exciting news.

Pure Hydrogen, for example, was among the worst-performing ASX hydrogen shares in June. That's despite the successful initial public offering (IPO) of Botala Energy – which is around 20% owned by Pure Hydrogen – and a favourable tribunal finding.

However, the Pure Hydrogen share price was put in the freezer late last month. It will remain frozen while the ASX makes inquiries into a presentation released by the company.

Meanwhile, ASX 200 giant Fortescue's green energy leg Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), alongside some notable German companies, released a set of recommendations to the European nation's government and industry. The Green Hydrogen Taskforce's recommendations outline a roadmap for Germany to import large amounts of green hydrogen from Australia.

Speaking of FFI, there was also big news from its joint venture partner Sparc last month. The company announced progress that will ensure the commercialisation of its graphene additive coating products.

Finally, ASX hydrogen share Hazer completed construction and commissioning at its commercial demonstration plant and introduced a new CEO. While APA announced it will build a major hydrogen-blend-ready gas pipeline.

Sadly, none of that was enough to save these ASX hydrogen shares, and they all ended June in the red.

The post ASX hydrogen shares announced some big news last month, so why did so many end June in the red? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This comes after the hydrogen producer announced a senior leadership change.

At the time of writing, Hazer shares are up 7.5% to 64.5 cents.

In comparison, the benchmark ASX 200 index is down by 1.34% to 6,672.7 points following losses on Wall Street overnight.

Hazer appoints new CEO

In its statement, Hazer advised it has appointed Glenn Corrie as its newest CEO, replacing current managing director Geoff Ward.

As part of an agreed succession plan, the board is bolstering its leadership team to address the company's next phase of development.

Corrie brings more than 25 years of international energy industry, private equity, and investment experience.

He has a track record of successfully leading large-listed and private equity-backed companies in driving growth.

Furthermore, Corrie holds substantial capital market knowledge across the equity and debt markets. This includes extensive global mergers and acquisitions experience across Asia, China, Africa, Latin America, the US, and Europe.

Corrie is currently an executive board member of Suriname's state oil company Staatsolie.

Prior to that, Corrie held the title of CEO and managing director of ASX-listed Sino Gas and Energy.

He was also the founding CEO of NEO Energy, a private equity-backed oil and gas emerging company.

Corrie will be based at the company's headquarters in Perth and commence the top position on 10 October 2022.

In the meantime, Ward will remain in his current capacity to ensure a smooth transition until the formal takeover.

Management commentary

Hazer chair Tim Goldsmith touched on the appointment, saying:

We are delighted to welcome a leader of Glenn's calibre to head a strong team as we enter the next phase of growth for Hazer and look forward to Glenn driving the company forward and realising the potential of the technology in helping to meet the sustainable energy needs of our changing world.

…Our company has undergone a significant transformation over the last four years with the completion of the Woodman Point Commercial Demonstration Project and securing the Burrard Hydrogen Project in British Columbia.

We look forward to driving these projects to demonstrate the huge potential of our technology to provide clean energy and emissions reduction in difficult-to-abate sectors…

Hazer share price snapshot

Over the last 12 months, the Hazer share price has lost 27% and is down 47% year to date.

Its shares hit a 52-week low of 47 cents each last Friday before rebounding slightly in the days following.

Based on today's price, Hazer presides a market capitalisation of roughly $100 million.

The post Hazer shares climb 8% amid CEO appointment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This comes after the hydrogen producer announced a construction milestone at its Commercial Demonstration Project (CDP).

Hazer's CDP is located at the Woodman Point Water Recovery Facility in Western Australia. The company aims to convert natural gas and similar methane feedstocks into hydrogen and high-quality graphite, using iron ore as a process catalyst.

Hazer shares reached an intraday high of 63 cents apiece today before closing 11.11% higher at 61 cents a share.

What's drovie the Hazer share price higher?

Investors bid the Hazer share price up following the company's latest positive announcement.

In a statement to the ASX, Hazer advised it has completed construction and the associated commissioning activities at its CDP.

The newly-built facility is the first fully-integrated demonstration of the company's Hazer Process. It will process biogas produced from the treatment of wastewater at the Woodman Point Water Recovery Facility to produce hydrogen and graphite.

Management noted that the CDP is a stepping stone in demonstrating the scale-up and commercial potential of the Hazer technology.

The latter is a leading example of methane pyrolysis, a low emission and cost-effective method to produce clean hydrogen.

The first phase of the testing program will be carried out at low temperatures using a temporary carbon steel reactor. This will allow trialling of the gas conditioning, solids handling, process control, safety, and utilities systems.

In addition, collection of the initial process data is expected to ultimately de-risk the full operation of the CDP.

However, the company is facing COVID-19-related disruptions to global supply chains in sourcing necessary equipment. As such, the hot-wall Hazer reactor is progressing at its manufacturing mill in China. This is expected to be delivered to Australia some time in the third quarter of 2022, with installation the following quarter.

Management commentary

Hazer Group CEO Geoff Ward touched on the significant achievement, saying:

We are delighted to have reached this important milestone.

I look forward to completing the testing program and continuing to demonstrate the capacity of the Hazer technology to play a significant role at large scale in achieving our critical global decarbonisation goals.

Despite today's gains, the Hazer share price has fallen 28% over the past 12 months and is down 47% year to date.

The post Hazer lifts 11% amid the ASX hydrogen share reaching a construction milestone appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

New Prime Minister and Labor leader Anthony Albanese has promised a 43% reduction in carbon emissions by the year 2030 relative to 2005 levels.

With that backdrop in mind, it's prudent to check in and see how ASX renewable energy shares have tracked in May.

Green shares are in the red

Whilst there's no specific set of indices covering the ESG or renewables segment in Australia, ETFs tracking the sector have stumbled hard in 2022.

The Vaneck MSCI Australian Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: GRNV) has fallen around 6% this month and is down 12% this year to date.

Whereas the Russell Investments Australian Responsible Investment ETF (ASX: RARI) slipped by roughly half that amount in May.

On the individual level, renewable energy players such as Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) have taken a knock in May, trading 3% down month to date.

Meanwhile, other tickers in the space including Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE) and Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR) have slipped by 5% and 13% this month to date respectively.

It's all relative though, as Einstein might say. Comparing to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), each of these names – plus ETFs tracking the sector – are trailing the benchmark.

The month to date returns for May in each of these vehicles are plotted on the chart below.

The post How have ASX renewable energy shares been performing in May? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A Labor government has committed to slashing carbon emissions by 43% by the year 2030, compared to 2005 levels.

But what impact is this set to have on financial markets? And what tickers are set to benefit? Let's take a look.

Clean and renewable energy on the agenda

It appears for the first time in at least 70 years that around one-third of Australians voted neither for Laboror nor the Coalition.

The Greens received roughly 12% of the vote while the so-called teal independents have taken a swathe of formerly Liberal seats, campaigning on a platform of greater climate action.

This new representation in federal parliament is set to have far-reaching impacts on Australia's stance on climate change.

Bloomberg journalist Ben Westcott, speaking on Bloomberg Day Break Australia on Monday, concurs.

Commenting on the outlook for Australia's climate emission reductions, he said: "[Now Prime Minister Anthony] Albanese went to the election with a promise of about 40% climate commission cuts by 2030 but the Greens Party wants 70%, the Independents want 60%."

Westcott said it remains to be seen how this will play out in climate policy but it may be that the Labor government could "be forced to take tougher action to cut emissions".

The regime change has been welcomed by The Clean Energy Investor Group (CEIG), a not-for-profit advocacy organisation representing institutional investors.

The group's CEO Simon Corbell said any shift in policy towards renewables is "deeply consequential for clean energy investment opportunities in Australia". Corbell told The Australian:

The message from the incoming Prime Minister is clear.

He wants Australia to be a renewable energy superpower. And that will send an enormously positive signal, right across the sector, about the opportunity in the Australian market.

We now have a national government that will not simply grudgingly accept the energy transition, but which will enthusiastically embrace it.

And that's enormously positive for investor sentiment.

What ASX shares might benefit?

With the push towards renewable energy imminent, several names within the domain are now front and centre.

ASX shares such as Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) and Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE) come to mind. Each stock has finished 5% and less than 1% in the green over the past five days of trading respectively.

More 'traditional' energy companies with a renewable footprint are contenders too, such as Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) which has ownership of substantial solar power generation assets.

Secular names such as Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR) also spring to mind given its focus on research into alternative power sources.

Except for Origin – with its 29% gain this year to date – each of these ASX shares has been beaten down in 2022, trading in the red during that time.

In wider market moves, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is trading 0.04% higher early on Tuesday afternoon.

The post If the 'election outcome is deeply consequential for clean energy investment', which ASX shares might benefit? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The technology company that's creating low-emissions hydrogen and graphite production processes saw its stock surge 41.98% in 2021. It ended last year trading at $1.15.

Sadly, 2022 hasn't been so kind to Hazer's shares. They've tumbled 20.96% year to date.

At the time of writing, the Hazer share price is trading at 90.5 cents.  

So, what's been dragging on the hydrogen-focused ASX share this year? Let's take a look.

What's going wrong for the Hazer share price?

The Hazer share price has been struggling amid a barrage of news and reports that large investors are hesitant to invest in hydrogen.

Defects in parts for the company's commercial demonstration project and sliding revenues have weighed on the stock in 2022. Meanwhile, it was boosted by the announcement of a new Canadian hydrogen production facility.

However, some of the market's big players are wary of hydrogen despite its apparent popularity.

Australian National University energy economist, Paul Burke, believes that Australia's potential to become a major green energy exporter is vast, reports the Financial Times (FT). But more funds are needed to realise the sector's potential.

Additionally, Burkes notes that the federal government "could be doing more" to support the nation's green energy potential.

The government has invested in hydrogen projects – including 'blue' hydrogen projects, which create carbon emissions.

In fact, the federal government promised hundreds of millions for hydrogen production in its latest budget.

But that probably won't be enough.

Hydrogen is one of the newest forms of low-emissions energy and it's reportedly lacking capital from super funds and investment houses.

While initiatives like an emissions trading scheme or a carbon tax could do more to force investment in low-emissions energy sources, Burke told the FT, a lack of capital could be dragging on sentiment for Australia's hydrogen sector.

And that could be weighing on the Hazer share price in 2022. Though, the company's stock isn't alone in the red.

The share prices of hydrogen-focused companies, Pure Hydrogen Corporation (ASX: PH2), Province Resources Ltd (ASX: PRL), and Sparc Technologies Ltd (ASX: SPN) have respectively slumped 23%, 35% and 51% year to date.

The post The Hazer share price gained 40% last year but its tumbling in 2022. What's going wrong? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

They have officially come in as some of the worst-performing hydrogen stocks of the March quarter.

So, what's been weighing on these hydrogen-focused companies' shares lately? Let's take a look.

Five of the worst-performing ASX hydrogen shares

A quick note: This list only considers hydrogen shares with market capitalisations of more than $50 million.

Sparc Technologies Ltd (ASX: SPN) – down 45.6%

The March quarter was a big one for this ASX hydrogen share. Unfortunately, it wasn't to the benefit of its share price.

The first news released by Sparc was its activities and cash flow report for the December quarter. Its release saw the company's share price surge by nearly 15%.

However, that gain – and then some – was stripped as the company exited a trading halt with big news.

And exciting news it was. Sparc announced Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG)'s green energy leg, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), was buying into Sparc's ultra-green hydrogen joint venture.

The Sparc share price plummeted 17% on the back of the announcement. The remainder of the quarter was a rollercoaster for the stock.

It gained 7% when it released more details of the hydrogen project and completed the first stage of FFI's buy-in. But it flopped 10% after the company retracted some previously-given details on the project's expected production costs and expenditures.

As of the final close of the March quarter, the Sparc share price was 88 cents, down from its starting price of $1.62.

Province Resources Ltd (ASX: PRL) – down 27.5%

Last quarter was also rough on the Province Resources share price.

The company is developing the HyEnergy renewable green hydrogen project in Western Australia.

Province Resources' poor performance in the quarter came despite no price-sensitive news sending the ASX company's shares lower.

In fact, the Province Resources stock gained 10.7% when it released its activities and cashflow report for the December quarter.

Additionally, news of a positive scoping study for the HyEnergy Project saw its share price trading flat.

Still, the Province Resources share price slipped from 14.5 cents to 10.5 cents over the three months ended 31 March, making it one of the quarter's worst-performing ASX hydrogen shares.

Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR) – down 20%

The March quarter was also rough on the Hazer share price.

It tumbled nearly 9% when the company announced a solution to a previously recognised fault in the manufacturing of a crucial part of its commercial demonstration plant.

The fault ultimately resulted in a delay to the plant's commissioning and an estimated $1 million of extra costs.

The release of the company's December quarterly update saw its stock dump 2%, while its half-yearly report saw it slip 1%. Over the six months ended 31 December, Hazer's revenue fell 51%, while its after-tax losses increased 607%.

Fortunately, the Hazer share price gained an impressive 12% on the announcement of a potential new hydrogen project. The company released news of its agreement with two Canadian energy companies to work towards building the project, for which Hazer will supply the technology, engineering, and catalyst.

Sadly, that boost wasn't enough to get the company's stock into the green last quarter.

After finishing 2021 trading at $1.15, the Hazer share price was 92 cents at the end of March.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) – down 15%

While not best known for its interests in hydrogen, this ASX giant is technically a hydrogen share.

That's because it owns Coregas. Coregas has been involved with the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain project, is working to supply hydrogen to Australia's transport sector, and manufactures the gas in Port Kembla.

The Wesfarmers share price fell 7% on the release of the company's half-year results last quarter. The company also completed its acquisition of formerly ASX-listed Australian Pharmaceutical Industries in March.

After ending the December quarter at $59.30, the Wesfarmers share price closed March trading at $50.41.

Pure Hydrogen Corporation CDI (ASX: PH2) – down 13.6%

Finally, last quarter was a rollercoaster for the Pure Hydrogen share price on the ASX.

It started out by flopping nearly 17% after the company was forced to supply more details of its previously announced hydrogen-related deals to the ASX.

However, that slip was recovered when the company announced H2X Global – of which Pure Hydrogen holds a 24% stake – had entered into a joint venture to supply hydrogen-powered vehicles to India.

A few days later, the Pure Hydrogen share price surged again on the back of the company's activities report for the December quarter.

It also recorded notable gains following deals that will see the company commercialising a process to create turquoise hydrogen and trialling Australia's first hydrogen-powered garbage truck.

Unfortunately, the Pure Hydrogen share price slipped from 55 cents at the end of 2021 to 47.5 cents at the end of the March quarter.

The post Here are the 5 worst-performing ASX hydrogen shares of the March quarter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the hydrogen producer's shares are swapping hands for $1.08, up 13.68%.

In comparison, the All Ordinaries (ASX: XAO) is currently 0.86% lower to 7,521.1 points.

What's the move behind Hazer shares charging higher?

The Hazer share price is climbing after the company announced a framework to develop a low-carbon emission hydrogen production facility in Canada.

In its release, Hazer advised it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Suncor Energy Inc and FortisBC Energy Inc.

The proposed hydrogen project will process natural gas feedstock to produce 2,500 tonnes per annum of low-carbon emission hydrogen and approximately 9,000 tonnes of synthetic graphite by-product.

Under the MOU, the three co-parties will work together to advance the project from concept to implementation. This includes conducting a feasibility study, securing funding arrangements, and concluding all binding agreements to establish the project consortium and carry out the project.

Suncor will lead the development of the project and, on completion, will operate the facility. FortisBC will supply natural gas feedstock and will purchase the hydrogen produced from the facility. Lastly, Hazer will supply the technology, lead engineering components, and manage the supply of catalyst to the project.

The feasibility study is expected to begin this month with the award of an engineering services contract.

A final investment decision (FID) is being scheduled for 2023, with operations targeted to kick off in 2025.

As part of the technology sharing program, Hazer will receive royalty payments to support the development of its technology.

The news comes after Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) released a handbook claiming Australia can play a "pivotal role" in the hydrogen export market.

Management commentary

Speaking on the announcement boosting the Hazer share price today, CEO Geoff Ward said:

We are delighted to enter into this collaboration with Suncor and FortisBC, two leading Canadian energy companies committed to building new business opportunities in decarbonisation.

The proposed hydrogen project will materially advance the Hazer technology building on the work that we are doing at the current Hazer Commercial Demonstration Project at Woodman Point in Perth, Australia.

Canada is an excellent jurisdiction for the Hazer technology, with strong platforms and incentive programs to drive decarbonisation action, access to a well-priced low carbon intensity electrical grid and strong demand for low-carbon energy across power, heating and industrial sectors.

About the Hazer share price

Despite today's strong gains, the Hazer share price has fallen by 25% over the past 12 months. When looking at the year to date, its shares are down by roughly 7%.

Hazer presides a market capitalisation of about $172.67 million and has approximately 162.89 million shares on its books.

The post Hazer (ASX:HZR) share price rockets 14% on low-carbon hydrogen project appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Goldman Sachs predicts our island home could tap in as a key exporter of the commodity.

Additionally, it expects the hydrogen market could be worth more than US$1 trillion ($1.4 trillion) by 2050.

Let's take a look at what might be in store for Australia's – and the ASX's – future in the green hydrogen space.

Could Australia host a prime spot in a $1.4 trillion industry?

According to analysts by Goldman Sachs, Australia could be up against regions including the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America in the race to supply hydrogen to potential major importers in Central Europe, Japan, Korea, and East China.

And we're going about it differently than other regions.

Australia's hydrogen strategy focuses on its ambition of becoming a global hydrogen hub – using its natural gas and access to low-cost renewable power to produce the energy commodity.

Australia's hydrogen industry is expected to ramp up from 2025, alongside that of Latin America, Europe, and Africa.

However, Australia and Europe have the lead in planned electrolyser capacity additions. They also offer the most funding for green hydrogen projects, such as those in the sights of many ASX shares.

Australia's National Hydrogen Strategy aims to place the nation as a key hydrogen exporter by 2030.  

Looking to the future of the global industry, Goldman Sachs predicts up to 30% of hydrogen could be exported across borders – creating a new major international trade. For context, that's more than the amount of natural gas currently traded between nations.

It also believes the average size of hydrogen projects could increase more than 100 times over by 2025, while the cost of electrolysers needed to produce the energy commodity could drop 40%.

Making the case more exciting, the price of hydrogen could be par with that of diesel in long-haul heavy road transport by as early as 2027.

So, which ASX shares have the potential to be involved in the upcoming export commodity? Let's take a look.

What ASX shares are involved in hydrogen?

There are plenty of ASX shares already on the hydrogen bandwagon.

Of course, the most notable is Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) and its green energy leg, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI).

It's creating a major electrolyser manufacturing facility in Queensland, as well as engaging in green hydrogen production and hydrogen-fuelled transport initiatives.

Meanwhile, Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR) is working to create hydrogen and synthetic graphite using its HAZER Process.  

Province Resources Ltd (ASX: PRL) is one step ahead with its HyEnergy Project, creating green hydrogen in Western Australia.

Speaking of the HyEnergy Project, Global Energy Ventures Ltd (ASX: GEV) recently began a feasibility study looking at transporting hydrogen from the project to key markets in Asia using its propriety compressed hydrogen ship.

Other ASX shares involved in hydrogen include Pure Hydrogen Corporation CDI (ASX: PH2) and Sparc Technologies Ltd (ASX: SPN).

The post Can Australia win the $1.4 trillion global hydrogen race? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Hazer is building its CDP at Water Corporation's Woodman Point Water Recovery Facility in Western Australia. The company aims to convert natural gas and similar methane feedstocks into hydrogen and high-quality graphite, using iron ore as a process catalyst.

At the time of writing, Hazer shares are down 11.84% to $1.08. This is in stark contrast to last month when the Hazer share price traded as high as $1.765.

What's dragging the Hazer share price down?

ASX investors are heading for the hills and selling Hazer shares following the company's shock announcement.

In today's statement, Hazer advised there has been a delay in completing the fabrication of the reactor for the CDP. This has evidently pushed back the commissioning of the new plant post the company's current target date of Q1 2022.

Hazer revealed that it identified a manufacturing flaw in the reactor vessel currently waiting for heat treatment in China. In response, quality assurance and non-destructive testing activities were carried out over the past 2 days, confirming the fault.

Furthermore, the company also found other areas within the reactor were a cause for concern.

As such, the reactor shell has been deemed unsuitable and will require remedial manufacturing repairs before being certified and dispatched.

Hazer noted that its project team are working with suppliers and independent experts and carrying out further investigations to rectify the defect.

In addition, Hazer stated that the impact on the project's costs and schedule cannot be exactly determined. However, it will look to see if any remedies can be made under the contract terms and insurance policy.

The delay is expected to be about 8 to 12 weeks. Hazer will update shareholders on any revisions to the schedule or budget when more information comes to light.

What did the head of Hazer say?

Hazer CEO, Geoff Ward, commented:

The occurrence of this issue so far into our construction schedule is deeply disappointing.

We will carefully work through the causes of this issue and what we can do to rectify the defect identified in the reactor and implement any actions available to mitigate the impact on the project budget and schedule.

The identified manufacturing flaw does not impact the planned operation of the reactor or our intended program of operations at the CDP. All other project activities are progressing as scheduled.

We will continue with all of these planned activities to allow us to undertake cold commissioning and testing of the plant, including catalyst handling, fluidisation and control systems, prior to the delivery and installation of the reactor.

Hazer share price snapshot

Despite today's heavy fall, the Hazer share price has accelerated by 40% over the past 12 months.

Interest in novel graphite and hydrogen production technology has picked up considerably in recent times. This has prompted ASX investors to buy.

Hazer presides a market capitalisation of $175.1 million and has approximately 160.65 million shares on its books.

The post Here's why the Hazer (ASX:HZR) share price is plummeting 11% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the company's stock is trading at $1.30, 2.99% lower than its previous close.

The fall comes despite no news released today by the hydrogen and graphite production technology developer.

For context, the broader market is also in the red today. Right now, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fallen 0.47%, while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.53%.

Let's take a look at what might be weighing on the Hazer share price on Wednesday.

Why is the Hazer share price slipping?

The Hazer share price is sliding alongside the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) and its ASX hydrogen peers.

Right now, the materials sector is down 0.43%.

Meanwhile, Pure Hydrogen Corporation CDI (ASX: PH2) and Province Resources Ltd (ASX: PRL) are both experiencing share price drops of around 4%.

So, what's going so wrong for ASX hydrogen shares today? Well, they might be being impacted by the movements of some of their United States-based counterparts.

US market concerns

Overnight, the share price of FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ: FCEL) fell 2.6%, while that of Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ: PLUG) tumbled 4.2%.

While the drop wasn't experienced across the board, its potential cause might be enough to worry ASX investors.

According to reporting by our United States-based colleagues, the NASDAQ-listed companies struggled overnight due to their position as growth stocks.

As hydrogen as an energy source is a relatively new concept, most players in the field are growth stocks.

That leaves them vulnerable to market movements, such as those we often see when big news of COVID-19 or interest rates come out.

And such market movements that might be happening right now, as the Omicron variant takes centre stage, spurring the United States Federal Reserve to pin the variant as a potential driver of inflation.

Meanwhile, back in Australia

However, good news for Australia's hydrogen industry – though, perhaps a signal of increasing competition – was released recently.

GeelongPort announced it's committed to building a $100 million hydrogen hub, where it will produce and distribute the energy source, yesterday.

Today's fall included, the Hazer share price is 12% lower than it was this time last month. Though, it's still 62% higher than it was at the start of 2021.

The post Why is the Hazer (ASX:HZR) share price getting tasered today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the share prices of ASX hydrogen companies, Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR), Pure Hydrogen Corporation Ltd (ASX: PH2), and Province Resources Ltd (ASX: PRL) are down 3.36%, 3.03%, and 3.12% respectively.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has slipped 0.36%, while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is sporting a 0.44% slump.

Additionally, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is see-sawing on Wednesday. Currently, it is 0.54% higher.

Let's take a look at what could be weighing on ASX hydrogen shares today.

Have US markets caused ASX hydrogen shares suffering?

It's a tough day for hydrogen-focused ASX shares, which are potentially being driven downwards by the poor performance of some of their international peers.

As my Foolish US colleague reported yesterday, the growth positions of many hydrogen companies might be weakening their performance.

Of course, hydrogen as an energy source is relatively new. That means many hydrogen companies are in their infancy.

In fact, Hazer, Pure Hydrogen, and Province Resources all sport market capitalisations of between $167 million and $215 million.

Growth stocks are generally at the mercy of markets. Unfortunately, those markets – particularly that of the United States – could look a little rocky at the moment.

Yesterday, United States Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said the Omicron COVID-19 variant is a risk to the nation's employment and economic activity.

It is, therefore, a potential harbinger of inflation.

Finally, ASX shares tend to move in trend with their United States-listed counterparts.

Thus, ASX hydrogen shares might be reacting to some NASDAQ-listed hydrogen stocks movement overnight.

While most of Australia slept last night, the FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ: FCEL) share price slipped 2.6%. Meanwhile, that of Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ: PLUG) tumbled 4.2%.

Though, plenty of US-listed hydrogen shares did post modest gains in Tuesday's session.

The post Why are ASX hydrogen shares tumbling today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Hazer share price is $1.68, flat with its previous close.

That leaves the creator of hydrogen and graphite-producing technology's gains for the last 30 days at 54%.

While there's been no price-sensitive news from Hazer in the last 30 days, there have been several happenings that might have piqued the market's interest.

Let's take a look at what might have driven Hazer's shares lately.

Hazer's great month on the ASX

The Hazer share price has taken off over the last month, seemingly alongside the market's interest in hydrogen.

This time last month, many shares in the ASX hydrogen sector were boosted when 2 Australian states released plans to kickstart a green hydrogen industry. Green hydrogen is that which is created using only renewable energy.

First, the Queensland government teamed up with Fortescue Metals Group Limited's (ASX: FMG) subsidiary Fortescue Future Industries to build a hydrogen equipment manufacturing centre.

Then, days later, New South Wales announced a $3 billion green hydrogen strategy.

The Hazer share price gained 9% on the day the Queensland-based plan was announced and was boosted another 24% when New South Wales released its strategy.

On 18 October, the market's excitement for Hazer's stock was renewed when the company released its quarterly activities report.

Finally, the Hazer share price gained 0.9% on Monday amid the announcement of the Australian Government's Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy.

The strategy includes providing additional funding for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. Thus, it could help to increase the uptake of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Hazer share price snapshot

Including its strong month's performance, Hazer's stock has gained 112% year to date.

It has also gained 162% since this time last year.

The post The Hazer (ASX:HZR) share price is having a bad day but it's still up 50% in a month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.