We’re working on New Zealand’s first large-scale biogas project that will turn food scrap waste into biomethane, a valuable source of renewable gas for homes and businesses. Action that helps move New Zealand towards its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Learn more
As Kiwis, we love the benefits gas brings. Summer barbies, instant heat, endless hot water, and cooking with a flame. But we also love our clean, green environment – and we want to see New Zealand reach its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
So, can we have both? We think so. But it means we all need to make some changes.
The gas used in Kiwi homes currently makes up less than 1% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, while commercial and industrial gas users contribute 8%. It’s not much – but we think we can do better. That’s why we are planning renewable gas projects and laying the foundations for the decarbonisation of our network in the future.
Natural gas and LPG are cleaner burning fuels, with lower CO2 emissions than coal or wood burners. But (along with the rest of New Zealand’s energy sector) we need to go a step further[1].
That’s why we’ve been investigating the possibilities of low carbon, renewable gas–primarily hydrogen, biogas and bioLPG – some of which are already well-advanced overseas.
With these potentially low carbon gas alternatives, we are investigating if we are able to continue using our existing pipeline networks and distribution channels to distribute a blend of renewable gas. It’s a pretty good way for us to help reach New Zealand’s net zero carbon goal by 2050, while still enjoying the benefits of gas!
In 2021 Clarus released study findings that indicate gas pipeline networks in New Zealand could flow a blend of hydrogen in the future. We’re now coordinating a programme of work to explore the potential introduction and blending of a small amount of hydrogen in a pipeline network – the first of its kind in New Zealand.
We are also building a biogas upgrade facility at Ecogas’ Organics Processing Facility in Reporoa due to open in 2024.
We closely following the results of extensive hydrogen research and development in Australia and Europe – where some gas networks are already successfully blending hydrogen in pipelines.
Gas is here for the long term. Natural gas is critical to supporting New Zealand’s growing demand for electricity right now and renewable gas options like, green hydrogen, biogas and bioLPG will
help us provide lower emission, renewable energy to homes and businesses in the in the future.
We’ve investigated what New Zealand’s hydrogen future could look like and how our network can play its part.
In 2019, Firstgas received $260,000 in government funding managed by the Provincial Development Unit to investigate how existing gas infrastructure could adapt to transporting hydrogen. The first phase of the work programme was a hydrogen pipeline trial study to investigate the role of hydrogen in decarbonisation and what we will need to do for our network to carry hydrogen.
Our study findings tell us that our network could be delivering a blend of hydrogen by 2035, with a move to 100% hydrogen by 2050. This would need to be supported by large scale storage of hydrogen to provide inter-seasonal and inter-year flexibility for the energy system.
Hydrogen is a low carbon, renewable alternative to natural gas. It can be produced by electrolysis, which is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. If the electricity is generated using renewable resources, like wind and solar, then the process creates no new carbon emissions, and the hydrogen produced is “green” hydrogen.
Based on our Hydrogen Pipeline study, hydrogen could replace natural gas demand in most sectors by 2050. Hydrogen has the potential to displace a range of different fossil fuels currently used for high-temperature process heat, building heating, electricity generation and large-scale energy storage which goes a long way to supporting a 100% renewable electricity system.
We’re right behind changing the future of gas to help reach New Zealand’s net zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. So while we continue working in the background, you are able to continue enjoying the benefits of gas.
Find out how
We believe gas has a big part to play in New Zealand’s energy future. Thanks to extensive research and close monitoring of international efforts, we’re heading in the right direction towards cleaner, more energy efficient gas – and to ultimately helping New Zealand reach its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
For Clarus (formerly Firstgas Group), the Hydrogen Pipeline Trial Study set the foundation for our ongoing delivery work on hydrogen. The results show we have sufficient network capacity and a viable strategy for converting our pipeline networks to a hydrogen blend from 2035 and moving to 100% hydrogen by 2050.
Read the full report
Natural gas has been a reliable, efficient and affordable energy source for Kiwis for over 50 years[2][3] – and we believe it has a crucial role to play in New Zealand’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Why gas has a key part to play
Clarus has acquired businesses that have been driving innovation in New Zealand’s energy sector for nearly forty years. Investigating innovative technology is part of Aotearoa’s journey to cutting emissions, and we firmly believe that the sustainability, reliability and affordability of gas will help get us there. That’s why we continue to invest in our operations and explore new, better ways of delivering gas to all New Zealanders, now and in the future.
About Clarus
Based in the energy-rich region of Taranaki, Firstgas connects natural gas to homes, businesses, and large industry. Across the North Island, we own more than 2,500 km of high-pressure gas transmission pipelines and 4,800 km of gas distribution networks. Through our transmission and distribution networks, we connect over 300,000 homes and businesses to gas.
Rockgas is New Zealand’s largest LPG retailer, serving over 142,000 customers with a national network of 35 LPG suppliers and over 180 refill stations across the country. Reliable and highly efficient[1], LPG offers big savings over electricity[2]. We make sure it’s available wherever, however and whenever our customers need it – whether that’s delivering gas bottles to homes and baches or providing LPG tanks to businesses.
Flexgas owns and operates Taranaki’s recently expanded Ahuroa gas storage facility. By providing energy storage at scale, we help major gas users manage varying demands – which ultimately means our customers can better manage their energy supply and demand variability for years to come.
First Renewables delivers renewable energy solutions, integrating renewable gas and electricity, to meet the needs of energy consumers across Aotearoa from local communities to energy-intensive industries.
