New Zealand’s energy sector is evolving as the country works toward a net-zero carbon future. As the nation transitions to a renewable energy future, natural gas will continue to play an important role, even as more renewable sources, including renewable gas, are introduced.
What is Renewable Gas?
At Firstgas, part of Clarus, we're committed to helping you better understand renewable gas. In this video, James Irvine, our GM for Future Fuels at Clarus, explains what renewable gas is and why it matters.
Renewable gas pathway
Today, we’re committed to delivering natural gas to New Zealand households and businesses, while steadily advancing toward renewable energy solutions. Each step we take today brings us closer to a future where our network delivers a wider range of lower-carbon gases.
Upgrading biogas to biomethane
One promising renewable gas is biomethane. Produced by upgrading biogas from organic waste, biomethane is chemically identical to natural gas. In fact, we’ve built a biomethane upgrade facility that upgrades Ecogas’ biogas into renewable gas, which is blended into the Firstgas network, near Taupo.
New Zealand’s first hydrogen blending pilot
Over 16 weeks from June to October 2025, fourteen pioneering households in Te Horo, on the Kāpiti Coast, received a gas blend starting at 3.5% hydrogen up to 12% by volume, (which translates to 3% energy delivered), through the existing gas distribution network.