At Firstgas, part of Clarus, we know New Zealand’s energy sector is evolving as we move towards a net zero carbon future. That’s why we’re starting to transition our gas network to align with this goal.
Natural gas will continue to play a key role as we integrate more renewable energy sources, including renewable gas. Extensive research and close monitoring of international efforts are helping us chart a path toward cleaner, more efficient solutions.
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.
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.
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.
We’re also exploring hydrogen blending—a step toward a lower carbon future. This is the focus of the Te Horo hydrogen blending pilot. In 2025, Firstgas, along with Gas Net, Nova Energy, Powerco, and Vector, will run a four-month pilot. During this pilot, hydrogen will be gradually blended into the natural gas pipeline, starting at 3.5% and increasing to a maximum of 12%.
