The firm finalised a non-recourse financing package for its Kapuni Project at Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ site in South Taranaki as it eyes bringing the plant online in 2027.

Marking one of the first commercial plants in the country, it will combine 25.6MW of wind turbines and 5MW of electrolysis which will produce up to two tonnes of green hydrogen per day.

Ballance will offtake some of the plant’s output to replace a portion of the grey hydrogen it consumes in ammonia-urea fertiliser production. Hiringa will also supply some to its hydrogen refuelling network, including stations in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.

The milestone comes more than five years after Hiringa secured NZ $19.9m in direct government funding via the Provincial Growth Fund.

It had faced pressure from environmental groups about the construction of new wind turbines and the use of fertilisers, which was dismissed by a Court.

With construction works expected to begin this month, Hiringa co-founder and Chair, Catherine Clennett, said it was a “major milestone” for the wider energy sector in New Zealand.

“It shows how we can decarbonise industry, strengthen regional economies, and build new low-emissions energy systems that generate long-term regional value,” she said.

Ballance CEO Kelvin Wickham also said the project opens “new options” for fertiliser production.