News & blog hub

New Zealand’s first ever hydrogen blending pilot was carried out in Te Horo on the Kāpiti Coast from June to early October this year. Led by Firstgas (part of Clarus), the pilot involved blending green hydrogen with natural gas into the existing natural gas pipeline. 

Clarus was incredibly proud to be named the winner of the Deloitte Top 200 Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award for 2025.

Clarus recently supported the 2025 Energy Skills Aotearoa – Science Fair (STEMFest) in Taranaki through our Community Partnership Fund. Held in New Plymouth on 12–13 November, this unique event is the only energy and science fair for primary-aged children in Taranaki and Clarus’ gold sponsorship helped make this event possible for over 230 students from 13 schools across the region.

Clarus welcomed Richie McCaw, former All Blacks captain and co-founder of the iSPORT Foundation, to our Bell Block site in Taranaki, as part of our partnership with iSPORT through the Good Energy Fund.

Clarus and the iSPORT Foundation are teaming up to help more young New Zealanders stay active and connected through sport. iSPORT, the charity co-founded by sporting legends, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, is the first recipient of Clarus’ new Good Energy Fund.

There’s been an exciting development for Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy future and for our growing renewable gas industry.

The House of Science team recently visited Firstlight Network to show our team the Electric Future science kit that Firstlight Network proudly sponsors.

Renewable gas keeps gaining momentum. Let’s take a look at some of the recent developments from around the world.

The ‘golden row’ of photovoltaic panels has now been installed at Tauhei Solar Farm — a key milestone in the construction of what is on track to become New Zealand’s largest solar farm at the time of commissioning in late 2026.

Clarus, one of New Zealand’s largest energy groups confirmed that its current shareholder, Igneo Infrastructure Partners (Igneo), has entered into agreements to sell its shareholding in Clarus, covering the Firstgas, Rockgas, and Flexgas businesses to Brookfield, one of the world’s largest infrastructure investors.

Australia has tweaked its laws to recognise the important role of renewable gas in a low-emissions future. The country’s framework for reporting on energy has been updated to provide guidance on biomethane and green hydrogen.

Light Up the Domain is a community-led initiative to make Te Aroha’s premier park more welcoming and showcase its unique features. Harmony and First Renewable, part of Clarus, who are joint venture partners in the Tauhei Solar Farm project, have donated $10,000 to support the installation of eco-friendly lights around the Gallipoli Centennial ponds and gardens.

At Clarus and Firstgas, we’re committed to supporting initiatives that have a practical and meaningful impact on our communities where we operate, through our community partnership fund.

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.

In Fife, Scotland, a pioneering initiative in home energy is taking place, and it’s something we here at Clarus, through our Firstgas team, are watching closely.

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.