Letting the collaboration flow
Powerco is celebrating a key milestone in New Zealand’s first hydrogen gas blending pilot being led by Firstgas.
Firstgas working together with Powerco, Vector, Nova Energy and GasNet is currently flowing a blend of natural gas and hydrogen in the Te Horo gas distribution network,to a group of residential customers on the Kāpiti Coast.
The four-month pilot started with a 3.5% blend of hydrogen with natural gas (by volume), and that ratio has gradually been increased, recently reaching the 10% milestone to demonstrate the feasibility of using existing gas infrastructure to transport hydrogen.
Powerco General Manager Gas Don Elers says the pilot is a great example of industry collaboration on renewable energy solutions.
“Tackling these challenges and opportunities collaboratively means we can all gain expertise, and share information and perspectives. That should give Kiwis confidence that the industry is working together on renewable gas solutions,” he says.
The dual electricity and gas distributor is committed to New Zealand’s net-zero by 2050 goal and sees gas as playing a key role in achieving it.
“Fuel diversity supports the need to balance affordability, sustainability and reliability in our energy system as we transition to net-zero. We’re both enabling electrification through our electricity operations and working on developing low carbon, renewable gas solutions – like hydrogen and biomethane,” says Don.
“Te Horo is part of that future-focused mahi. Seeing the result of this industry collaboration literally flowing to Kiwis is a really exciting step in that journey.”
Firstgas working together with Powerco, Vector, Nova Energy and GasNet is currently flowing a blend of natural gas and hydrogen in the Te Horo gas distribution network,to a group of residential customers on the Kāpiti Coast.
The four-month pilot started with a 3.5% blend of hydrogen with natural gas (by volume), and that ratio has gradually been increased, recently reaching the 10% milestone to demonstrate the feasibility of using existing gas infrastructure to transport hydrogen.
Powerco General Manager Gas Don Elers says the pilot is a great example of industry collaboration on renewable energy solutions.
“Tackling these challenges and opportunities collaboratively means we can all gain expertise, and share information and perspectives. That should give Kiwis confidence that the industry is working together on renewable gas solutions,” he says.
The dual electricity and gas distributor is committed to New Zealand’s net-zero by 2050 goal and sees gas as playing a key role in achieving it.
“Fuel diversity supports the need to balance affordability, sustainability and reliability in our energy system as we transition to net-zero. We’re both enabling electrification through our electricity operations and working on developing low carbon, renewable gas solutions – like hydrogen and biomethane,” says Don.
“Te Horo is part of that future-focused mahi. Seeing the result of this industry collaboration literally flowing to Kiwis is a really exciting step in that journey.”
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