The non-binding Memorandum of Understanding signed by FFI and Firstgas, indicates their intentions to identify opportunities to produce and distribute green hydrogen across the country.

To achieve this, FFI and Firstgas will undertake feasibility studies to assess the parameters of opportunities, enabling the potential development of projects, which will include assessing the use of existing energy assets.

This new collaboration builds upon an agreement signed last year between FFI and Channel Infrastructure aiming to investigate the feasibility of production, storage, and distribution of industrial-scale green hydrogen from the Marsden Point fuel terminal.

Firstgas is New Zealand’s largest gas network, with 2,500km of high-pressured transmission pipelines, and 4,800km of distribution pipelines in the North Island, connecting over 300,000 homes and businesses to gas.

Firstgas has already planned to transition New Zealand’s pipelines from natural gas to hydrogen, beginning in 2030, with conversion to a 100% hydrogen grid by 2050.

Paul Goodeve, Chief Executive at Firstgas Group, said, “Integrating green hydrogen into NZ’s current energy mix gives our country the best available balance of energy security, energy equity, system resilience and environmental sustainability.”

Felicity Underhill, Director of Australia East and New Zealand at FFI, added, “Partnering with companies like Firstgas enables us to combine FFI’s global experience and expertise in green hydrogen, with strong local knowledge and existing infrastructure.”