Norway-based international energy giant Equinor ASA and global science and technology firm Battelle are teaming up to better understand the Appalachian Basin’s potential as a carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub to support longer-term hydrogen.

“The Appalachian Basin is an important energy-producing region that also shows great promise in being a leader for the decarbonization of American industry,” said Equinor’s U.S. country manager Chris Golden. “Our regional hub vision will meet tomorrow’s energy demands while maintaining America’s industrial competitiveness within a net-zero scenario.”

Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced Tuesday, Equinor and Battelle will conduct feasibility studies to examine the potential of deploying CCS in the tri-state...