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Could Kiwi travellers one day be jetting around the country in planes fuelled by green hydrogen? That’s the plan, according to the New Zealand Hydrogen Aviation Consortium, a group of forward-thinking aviation industry businesses formed in late 2023.

First Renewables, a Clarus company and Harmony Energy announced early in 2024 that they will develop and own Tauhei Solar Farm. At the time of commissioning in 2026, it is expected to be New Zealand’s largest solar generation site.

Safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable – that’s the dream for renewable energy. Green hydrogen can help to deliver that dream for Australia, according to new research by the Australian Hydrogen Centre.

New Zealand has been producing natural gas in Taranaki since 1959, when our largely rural nation had a population of just 2.5 million. Now our population has doubled, our industries have expanded, and our energy use has skyrocketed, and natural gas has been a cornerstone of our energy supply.

A year on from Cyclone Gabrielle. The Gisborne District Council held the Tairāwhiti Superhero Awards. These awards recognised individuals and organisations who went above and beyond to support their communities during the cyclone and its devastating aftermath.

Nearly 200 nations, including New Zealand, signed a landmark agreement at the recent Cop28 climate summit in Dubai. It took two weeks of tough negotiation, but the deal finally passed on 13 December, when it was met with applause from those in attendance.

Diesel has long been the go-to fuel for the agricultural sector, but that could change in the future thanks to new emerging hydrogen technology.

Global renewable energy infrastructure developer, Harmony Energy Limited has entered a joint venture with First Renewables Limited, part of New Zealand energy group Clarus (formerly Firstgas Group), to develop and own Tauhei Solar Farm.

Based in the energy-rich region of Taranaki, Clarus company, Firstgas connects natural gas to homes, businesses and large industry across the North Island. Firstgas is responsible for the ongoing reliability and safe operation of the more than 2,500 km of high-pressure gas transmission pipelines, known as the Māui and Kapuni pipelines.

Clarus has appointed Helen Murchison to the role of General Manager, Rockgas.

Firstgas is a long-time supporter of Mōkau Museum and some of our Firstgas team headed to Mōkau in early December 2023 to attend the re-opening of this community treasure. 

This has been a banner year for renewable energy across the globe and in New Zealand – here are some of the big wins throughout the year in the green energy sector:

The Mokau Compressor Station upgrade has reached a milestone, with the safe re-installation of the unit one gas cooler. 19 tonne cooler lowers the temperature of the gas so that its cool enough to send north in the pipeline.

Auto manufacturer Suzuki plans to build four biogas refineries in India, which will begin operating in 2025. The biogas plants will turn cattle manure into biomethane, and that methane will be used to power vehicles that are currently fuelled by compressed natural gas.

Ireland’s first ever direct-to-grid injection of biomethane into the Northern Ireland gas grid at Dungannon stands as a ground-breaking milestone for the decarbonisation of energy. 

Ara Ake Board appoints Clarus CE, Paul Goodeve. Paul Goodeve, a Chartered Accountant, Barrister, Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, and a member of the Institute of Directors, is currently CEO of Clarus (formally Firstgas Group). He has an extensive background in people leadership, expertise in regulated and non-regulated transmission and distribution energy infrastructure, and leadership in renewable energy developments.