Young Energy Professionals on Renewable Gas Tour

Tim Lepper (First Gas) and Max Bowron (Powerco)

GasNZ, Bioenergy Australia and the Kennedy Educational Scholarship Trust (KEST) were pleased to support two young professionals - Tim Lepper (First Gas) and Max Bowron (Powerco) - to join the GasNZ Renewable Gas Tour of Australia.

KEST was set up in 1977 by the Kennedy family, to provide grants that “…advance gas knowledge and skills in a way that benefits both the recipients and the wider gas industry.” The aim of the tour was to understand more about the breadth of renewable gas opportunities and to consider closely what could be applied in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Tim and Max both received funds to cover the full cost of the tour.

Visiting project in five states over five days, the objective of the tour was to understand more about the breadth of renewable gas opportunities and to consider what could be applied in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Tim Lepper
Based in Taranaki, Tim is currently responsible for two significant renewable gas projects at Firstgas. The first project involves working with a biogas producer to upgrade the biogas to biomethane and inject into an existing transmission system. The second project is a hydrogen injection trial.

Max Bowron
Max is a recent graduate who was initially a 2021 intern at Future Sure partner company, Powerco where his interest in renewable generation and green gas began. He now works at Powerco as a Gas Network Performance Engineer.

Tim and Max travelled with senior energy professionals and others with an interest in renewable gases in New Zealand. They will present their findings at a Business Energy Council seminar in the next few months – we will keep you posted on the dates.

Find out more about KEST Scholarships.