The recent "20-year" electricity pricing deal just agreed for the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is a notable milestone for energy sector stability in New Zealand.

As concerns mount around New Zealand’s natural gas supply, chief executive of Liquigas, Albert de Geest, says LPG is readily available internationally and more could be easily imported as necessary.

The New Zealand Business Energy Council (BEC) and others were represented at the recent World Energy Congress 2024 in Rotterdam - the first congress since Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Electrification is a key part of decarbonising New Zealand’s energy system, and it’s pleasing to see the importance of gas in achieving that goal is being openly acknowledged, GasNZ chief executive Jeffrey Clarke says.

BraveTrace – formerly known as Certified Energy – will soon be launching a renewable gas certificate for use with biogas, biomethane and hydrogen.

Energy security worldwide, including New Zealand, has deteriorated in the last year, according to the World Energy Council’s latest report.

In an interesting parallel with New Zealand, it seems Australia is also debating the sufficiency of its natural gas supply – with warnings of winter shortages coming from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – despite Australia being a major exporter of gas.

Most residential gas consumers would only replace their existing gas appliances such as water heaters, cooktops or space heaters if they break down, according to a report from the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA).

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) can substantially decarbonise gas production and provides an option to decarbonise some ‘hard to abate’ industrial sectors, the Gas Industry Company (GIC) says in its recently released briefing for incoming ministers. 

The energy, agricultural and waste sectors should collaborate to reduce New Zealand’s emissions by capturing biogas produced from organic waste, an independent report commissioned by Powerco, Clarus and Ecogas says.

Powerco’s kicking off two initiatives in Manawatu to investigate turning waste into pipeline-ready renewable natural gas to help New Zealand decarbonise.

Natural gas is certainly going to be needed in the medium term during New Zealand’s energy transition, the Minister of Energy, Simeon Brown, told a business breakfast audience in Wellington last week.

GasNZ was invited to discuss the future of gas at the University of Auckland Energy Centre’s annual three-day Summer School in Energy Economics in February.

Gas is vital to New Zealand’s energy security in the short to medium term and is likely to have a part to play in the longer term depending upon future technology solutions.

Both demand for gas and gas reserves are decreasing, according to the latest report on supply and demand from business consultants Ernst & Young, commissioned by the Gas Industry Company.

Ecogas has been selected by Christchurch City Council to provide a long-term solution for the processing of kerbside organics and garden waste.

GasNZ is pleased to announce Jeffrey Clarke as its new Chief Executive, effective March 2024.

Methane electrolysis may be a cost-effective method for New Zealand hydrogen production, Worley vice president for onshore upstream and midstream Peter Cox says.

The divide between New Zealanders who can and can’t afford to heat their home, cook a meal and get from A to B remains unacceptably large.

When GasNZ attended the International Gas Union council meetings in Perth, it included tours of a range of progressive gas projects. Usefully for our members events like these mean we are able to share contacts and leads and to support the establishment of a trans-Tasman gas cohort.