In New Zealand, First Renewables Ltd, a Firstgas Group company, in partnership with Ecogas has confirmed that the First Renewables biogas to biomethane upgrading facility, located at the Ecogas Reporoa Organics Processing Facility, is in production and injecting biomethane into the gas grid.
As such this is a historic milestone for the country’s gas pipeline infrastructure.
We are thrilled to confirm that renewable gas is now flowing through a Firstgas pipeline for the first time, marking a pivotal moment not only for the gas industry but for New Zealand’s journey towards a sustainable, low-carbon energy future, said James Irvine, General Manager of Future Fuels at Clarus.
Renewable natural gas (RNG), or biomethane, is chemically identical to conventional natural gas but comes from renewable sources such as organic waste, making it a critical player in reducing carbon emissions across various sectors.
It can be used for heating, electricity generation, and transportation.
Our initial estimates show this facility alone can supply enough renewable gas to power up to 7,200 homes, while also reducing CO₂ emissions by 11,000 tonnes per year, and because it’s chemically identical to natural gas, there are no changes required for gas users or their appliances, James Irvine explained.
Circular bioeconomy
Using anaerobic digestion (AD) technology food scraps and other organic wastes are transformed into biogas at Ecogas’ Reporoa facility.
Ecogas contracted First Renewables to deliver an advanced biogas upgrading system to clean the raw biogas and transform it into biomethane.
This is then injected into the Firstgas pipeline for distribution to residential and commercial gas users.
Biogenic carbon dioxide (bioCO2) is also produced for Ecogas as part of this new system. This will be supplied to a nearby greenhouse to enhance the growth of tomatoes in the near future.
This is an exciting step forward for not only Ecogas and First Renewables but for Aotearoa as a whole. Our mission is to close the food and energy loop. By transforming a ‘waste’ product into a renewable gas, we are another step forward on this journey that ultimately supports environmental sustainability, energy security, and economic development in Aotearoa New Zealand, said Fraser Jonker, Managing Director of Ecogas.
The news that RNG is flowing in a pipeline follows closely after the announcement that Firstgas, also a Clarus company, is one step closer to commencing New Zealand’s first Hydrogen Blending Pilot with WorkSafe granting two exemptions to Firstgas to enable the project to move forward.
Gas will continue to play a key role in New Zealand’s transition to reduced emissions. Its storability and transportability make it a reliable energy source, especially for sectors hard to decarbonize, and it’s pivotal in supporting the country’s electricity grid during peak times. As New Zealand embarks on its renewable energy journey, the potential of renewable gas is exciting, with the technology playing an essential role in achieving a low-carbon energy future, ended James Irvine.
