The world’s largest asset manager BlackRock has launched a clean energy investment fund focused on hydrogen and energy storage technologies.
The iShare Energy Storage and Hydrogen UCITS ETF (STOR) comes at a crucial time when investor confidence in hydrogen remains uncertain, reinforcing the need for stable, long-term backing in the sector.
Launched this month (February), it has net assets of $5.12m as of February 10, 2025. Its top holdings are Contemporary Amperex Technology (8.2%), Air Products & Chemicals (7.15%), Asahi Kasei Corp (7%) and Linde (6.80%).
STOR also has a 4.4% and 2.2% share in electrolyser firms Bloom Energy and Delta Electronics, respectively.
STOR holds a diversified portfolio of 53 stocks, with at least 35% of its assets meeting sustainability criteria in line with ESG principles.
Furthermore, it will track the STOXX Global Energy Storage and Hydrogen index and offer exposure to the energy storage industry, identifying companies involved in energy storage systems, including stationary and heavy-duty batteries, and hydrogen fuel and fuel cells.
As the world’s largest investor, BlackRock’s support for the hydrogen industry could help strengthen investor confidence, improve financing conditions, and accelerate market growth.
This backing comes at a time when investor scrutiny is reshaping the sector, driving leadership and strategic shifts at major companies like Air Products and Johnson Matthey (JM).
Both firms have faced growing pressure to deliver stronger returns and manage risks more effectively, highlighting the challenges and expectations surrounding hydrogen investments today.
JM, under pressure from investors, appointed a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on February 10 and has begun searching for its next chair.
Read more:JM restructures leadership as investor scrutiny forces hydrogen business rethink
This follows calls from its largest shareholder to de-risk or sell its hydrogen technologies business, leading the company to suspend CAPEX in the division.
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