At Clarus, we want Kiwis to keep enjoying the benefits of gas while we all move toward a lower carbon emissions future.
This project is more than just renewable energy, it’s a step toward a circular economy, where waste becomes a resource and sustainability powers progress. By rethinking how we handle food and organic waste, we’re helping create New Zealand's low carbon energy future.
*Calculation based on 22GJ p.a. average for a residential consumer. Estimated max production is 160TJ = 7,200 houses.
Ecogas’ Reporoa Organics Facility processes 75,000 tonnes of organic waste annually.
First Renewables Biomethane upgrade facility can produce enough renewable gas to supply 7,200 households each year, eliminating 11,000 tonnes of CO2 a year*.
Biogas is a renewable energy source and is made through a process called anaerobic digestion which processes organic wastes such as:
Food waste from homes and businesses
Farm and agricultural waste
Wastewater and sewage treatment
In New Zealand, biogas is produced on farms, at wastewater treatment facilities, and from household food waste at Ecogas’ Reporoa Processing Facility.
Biomethane is a renewable gas made from cleaned and upgraded biogas and chemically the same as natural gas but with a much smaller carbon footprint.
No. Biomethane is chemically the same as natural gas, so it can be used in existing stoves, heaters and hot-water systems with no changes needed.
Once upgraded, the biomethane is injected into the same gas pipes that already supply many homes and businesses. That means lower-emissions gas using the pipeline infrastructure we already have.
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a natural process where micro-organisms break down organic waste such as food scraps, farm waste and sewerage. This produces two valuable resources:
Digestate – is a nutrient rich substance which can be used as fertiliser.
Biogas – is collected in the bubble on top of the digester and can be used for heating and electricity generation.
Just like natural gas, biomethane can be stored and used when needed, so it helps meet electricity demand during cold evenings or peak times and works alongside renewable electricity to keep the energy system secure and reliable.
Yes. New Zealand already produces biomethane at a small scale at the First Renewable’s (part of Clarus) biogas upgrade facility in Reporoa.
There’s been an exciting development for Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy future and for our growing renewable gas industry.
Clarus is one of New Zealand’s largest energy groups, powering nearly half a million homes and businesses nationwide. The companies within the Clarus group play a crucial role across the energy spectrum, covering transmission, distribution, supply, and storage, to keep energy flowing to communities across Aotearoa.
Demark is making great strides in green energy, with 45% of its energy consumption in 2022 coming from renewables. The country is continuing to invest in renewable energy facilities, and an expansion is underway that will give its biogas sector a huge boost.
Energy sector leaders have come together to officially kick start the Energy Transition Framework, a landmark commitment to working collectively – and urgently – to ensure our energy system remains secure, affordable, and supports a high-growth economy as it transforms.
Biogas is a renewable energy source that comes from organic waste. Almost any organic waste product, from food scraps to crops to human sewage, can be turned into biogas. It doesn’t create any additional greenhouse gas emissions, making it a net zero emissions gas.
New Zealand is rich in renewable energy, but managing supply — especially during peak demand periods — remains a challenge. Fortunately, there’s a local solution that’s already gaining traction: biogas made from food and agricultural waste. By embracing a circular economy, where organic waste is recycled into energy and fertiliser, we can strengthen our electricity and gas grids, reduce emissions, and build long-term resilience — all while turning waste into value.
There’s huge potential for biogas in New Zealand – from energy to waste to agriculture, it can make a big contribution to our emissions-reduction efforts.
First Renewables, is 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.
It’s a confusing time for energy consumers, especially those using gas. There are some opinions out there that New Zealand needs to go 100% electric and that for various reasons our gas supplies are dwindling. However, gas remains critical to supporting our country’s variable renewable electricity supply.
Clarus company, First Renewables is close to completing work on an exciting New Zealand-first renewable gas project that will turn food scraps into biomethane.
Blunomy report on the vision of biogas for New Zealand
An independent report looks at the potential for biogas to reduce Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions and increase renewable energy.
Biogas upgrade facility is taking shape
Clarus company, First Renewables is currently building a state-of-the-art facility to upgrade Ecogas’ biogas into renewable gas
Big oil companies aren’t in the business of losing money. That’s why it’s fascinating to see Shell and BP investing billions of dollars into biogas, a renewable energy source that could eventually replace natural gas and help reduce global carbon emissions.
In October 2021, our Firstgas Group team attended Ecogas’ official opening of their new Organics Processing Facility in Reporoa, the first of its kind in New Zealand.