To produce nitrogen-rich fertiliser, which is critical to all aspects of agricultural food production - including vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy.

Hydrogen is one of the only viable solutions for decarbonising heavy transport. Fuel cell electric vehicles are zero emission vehicles with long range and fast refuelling that enables similar utilisation and benefits of diesel powered vehicles. Fuel cells are 2-3 times more efficient than internal combustion engines, and the amount of hydrogen required to travel is less than if hydrogen was combusted. For example, a car travels ~100km - 120km from 1kg of hydrogen.

For more information on hydrogen and Hiringa Energy see www.hiringa.co.nz

In the future, a refuelling station is envisaged at Kapuni. Over 40 trucks a day visit the Kapuni site, and neighbouring plants contribute another 40+ trucks visits per day, making the site an ideal location for a refuelling for heavy vehicles.

Hiringa Energy is working with the local transport companies and has identified potential routes for trials at Kapuni. However, it is anticipated that initially the hydrogen will be transported to other refuelling stations.

The hydrogen will be transported to other refuelling locations as compressed gas on tube trailers. Kapuni is serviced by ~40 trucks each day with potential to convert this fleet to hydrogen and fuel at Kapuni. Hydrogen can also be cost effectively piped, and Hiringa’s engineering team together with consulting engineers and international experts are designing reticulation piping systems for hydrogen.

Hiringa is currently collecting wind speed and direction data that will be used to determine wind turbine location, number and size. The project feasibility case used 4 turbines.

The Kapuni site has limited electricity supply infrastructure and the direct coupling of wind to electrolysis enables utilisation of excess electricity no matter the time of day. We will also have a grid connection that will allow us to purchase electricity from the grid and sell excess electricity to provide operational flexibility.

This project is the first step to a significant reduction in emissions at Kapuni while creating employment opportunities and certainty for the existing workforce and contractors at the plant.

This project will catalyse additional renewable generation developments in the region, which will ultimately enable additional power for production of hydrogen for the Kapuni plant. Future electrolysis may be at the plant and power transmitted via power lines to the plant, or near other renewable generation sites and hydrogen transmitted to the plant via pipelines. South Taranaki has considerable wind and other renewable resource potential.

The project will create professional and skilled jobs during development, construction and operations. The clean energy hub at Kapuni will require specialist skills for renewable energy and transport projects. Jobs include professional services, engineering, consenting, health and safety, project management, and trades for installation and maintenance.

Ballance is one of the largest employers in the South Taranaki region and employees a number of skilled specialist contractors and tradespeople in the region.

The Green Hydrogen project at Kapuni represents an important first step for Ballance Agri-Nutrients in their efforts to reduce their environmental and carbon emissions footprint.

It will enable Ballance to start the transition away from using non-renewable hydrogen sources (such as natural gases) – instead harnessing wind and water energy to produce carbon-neutral hydrogen.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients is a farmer-owned co-operative with more than 18,500 shareholders throughout New Zealand, with a strong focus on Kaitiakitanga, and takes their responsibility to guard and protect our natural environment for future generations very seriously - https://ballance.co.nz/

Hiringa Energy is the first company in New Zealand dedicated to the supply of green hydrogen, and providing solutions for industry, the public sector, and transport operators. We are establishing production, distribution and refuelling infrastructure to enable the adoption of hydrogen solutions - https://hiringa.co.nz

We welcome your questions or concerns and encourage you to contact us. You can do this by using the contact form at the bottom of this page.