Projects
The companies within the Clarus group are focused on delivering projects that maintain a safe, reliable and resilient energy system for its customers now, and continue to develop and evolve renewable gas plans for the future.
The Te Horo hydrogen blending pilot
Firstgas is undertaking a WorkSafe-approved pilot, blending a small amount of green hydrogen with natural gas in the Te Horo pipeline network from early March 2025 for four months. Hydrogen is scalable, dependable and is low carbon as it can be made cleanly using just water and renewable electricity. Blending hydrogen with natural gas helps reduce emissions by lowering the carbon content of the gas you use. This pilot is a step toward a cleaner energy future.
New Zealand’s largest solar farm is coming
Clarus has entered a partnership with global renewable energy infrastructure developer, Harmony Energy to develop and own Tauhei Solar Farm. Once developed, it will capture Te Aroha sunshine using ~330,000 solar panels over ~260 hectares of land - equivalent to the size of around 371 rugby fields!
Tomatoes anyone?
As part of the First Renewables biogas upgrade facility we have commenced construction of a regenerative thermal oxidiser (RTO). The RTO is designed to upgrade renewable carbon dioxide (bioCo2) that is produced during the biogas to biomethane upgrade process. Once completed the bioC02 will be pumped into a near-by glasshouse encouraging big, delicious tomatoes to grow!
Renewable Gas flows in Firstgas pipeline for the first time
On October 17 2024, First Renewables, in partnership with Ecogas confirmed that the First Renewables biogas upgrade facility, located at the Ecogas Reporoa Organics Processing Facility was flowing renewable gas in a pipeline.
Biogas to pipeline upgrade facility
Clarus business, First Renewables is currently building a state-of-the-art facility to upgrade Ecogas’ biogas into renewable gas at Ecogas’ Organics Processing Facility in Reporoa, the first of its kind in New Zealand.
Maui Pipeline realignment project
The Maui Pipeline is New Zealand’s largest gas transmission pipeline and is used to transport natural gas to about 300,000 domestic, commercial and industrial gas users throughout the North Island.
Ahuroa gas storage upgrade completed successfully
Clarus business, Flexgas completed an upgrade to its Ahuroa gas storage facility in Taranaki in October 2020. The upgrade provides greater flexibility and security of gas supply, which supports New Zealand’s growing renewable electricity generation fleet.