Firstgas hydrogen blending pilot

Firstgas, part of Clarus, together with GasNet, Nova Energy, Powerco, and Vector, has reached a key milestone in New Zealand’s first hydrogen blending pilot. Fourteen households in Te Horo, on the Kāpiti Coast, are now receiving a gas blend containing 10% hydrogen by volume, delivered through the existing gas distribution network.

As the country decarbonises and moves towards a net zero carbon future, natural gas will continue to play an important role while we change over to sources of renewable energy.

Firstgas is getting closer to commencing New Zealand’s first Hydrogen blending pilot, with support from its partners Vector, Powerco, Nova Energy and GasNet. We plan to blend a small amount of hydrogen, a type of renewable gas, with natural gas into the existing natural gas pipeline in Te Horo.

Firstgas 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.

When it comes to renewable gases – like biogas, biomethane and green hydrogen – there are plenty of opinions flying around. It’s time to bust a few myths about renewable gas, so here are our top five:

Hydrogen has a vital role to play as Aotearoa’s transition to a zero-carbon future and Firstgas Group is investigating the role of hydrogen and what we will need to do for our network to carry hydrogen in the future.