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KAPUNI GREEN HYDROGEN PROJECT
A PIONEERING DECARBONISATION PROJECT HARNESSING OUR NATURAL
WIND RESOURCES IN TARANAKI
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Construction of 4 new wind turbines. Wind turbines reach a height of 206m to tip and 125m to the hub.
Improved regional economic diversity, resilience and local job opportunities.
Producing up to ~2000kg/day of zero emission green hydrogen from renewable energy.
Contributes to the progressive decarbonisation of industry in New Zealand.
Renewable electricity to support Hiringa Energy and Ballance’s operations and supply Nova Energy’s network.
PROJECT LOCATION
The turbines will be situated on Parininihi ki Waitōtara (PKW) land in South Taranaki.
The electrolyser will be located near the Ballance plant.
An high voltage cable will connect the turbines to the electrolyser plant.
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Kapuni,
Taranaki
THE PROJECT
Kapuni is a landmark renewable energy and green hydrogen project in New Zealand.
It is one of the first projects in New Zealand to integrate wind, industrial electricity supply and green hydrogen production at scale, with the ability to decarbonise multiple sectors simultaneously; namely transport, energy, industry and agriculture.
It involves the construction of four new wind turbines with the ability to provide renewable electricity up to 24,000 homes during peak times.
The turbines will supply renewable electricity to Ballance's Kapuni site, enable green hydrogen production for emissions-free transport and to augment some of the natural gas feedstock used to manufacture lower carbon fertiliser, and electricity to the grid.
In doing so, the project will enhance New Zealand’s overall renewable energy supply and support decarbonisation across the wider energy system.
Hiringa Energy are the developer and operator of the project on behalf of the project partners who are Hiringa Energy, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Todd, Parininihi ki Waitōtara (PKW) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
PROJECT BENEFITS
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THIS PIONEERING PROJECT WILL BENEFIT OUR REGION, COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME.
INCREASED RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
By combining the latest wind turbine technology with an outstanding wind resource, the project increases the availability of renewable electricity generation in South Taranaki and materially contributes to greening of the region’s power.
A 5 MW capacity hydrogen electrolyser will also be installed to integrate with the wind farm and the Ballance Kapuni plant. The electrolyser will use the renewable electricity to split water (H20) into oxygen and hydrogen to produce up to two tonnes of green hydrogen per day. The green hydrogen production can be scaled up or down, in line with market growth and demand. It plays a key role in decarbonising New Zealand’s transport and industrial sectors.
SUPPORT FOR A LOW CARBON HEAVY VEHICLE FLEET
The project can provide an important, flexible source of green hydrogen for Hiringa Energy's refuelling network that is being established across Aotearoa to enable the use of green hydrogen fuel-cell technology in heavy transport, displacing imported liquid fossil fuels with clean energy.
Hiringa Energy is operating four high capacity refuelling stations to service the heavy transport market and provide a zero emission alternative to transport operators and users.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The project will provide direct employment during construction, commissioning and operations. It will provide skill development in renewable and zero emission technologies that will be essential for New Zealand to decarbonise. Local contractors will be used wherever possible.
The supply of renewable electricity, green hydrogen and oxygen provide the foundation for the development of spin-off industries and companies.
The project represents a pathway to retain highly skilled technical jobs in the region required to support Aotearoa's broader decarbonisation.
IMPROVED REGIONAL ECONOMIC DIVERSITY/RESILIENCE
The Taranaki regional economy is heavily reliant on a few sectors, such as dairy and oil & gas, resulting in a lack of diversity and resilience. The project helps improve regional economic diversity, and creates spin off opportunities for others – specifically, the project provides a local supply green hydrogen to trial clean energy use in other applications such as domestic gas networks and on farm technologies, plus provides a supply of oxygen that may be used for aquaculture.
The project is also adding local sovereign energy generation that will enhance New Zealand’s energy security profile.
INVESTMENT SIGNAL EFFECTS
The project signals that Taranaki is a dynamic, adaptive, and forward-thinking regional economy, which may encourage other regional businesses to also invest and develop new innovative clean products and projects.
WHY IS THE PROJECT IMPORTANT?
Approximately 60% of New Zealand’s energy needs are currently met by fossil fuels.
New Zealand has committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and green hydrogen is key to decarbonising difficult sectors such as commercial and heavy transport and industrial chemicals.
However, our decarbonisation performance over the past 20 years has been poor.
The time to start the difficult journey towards a lower emission economy is now.
The project's unique proximity to industry and a significant wind resource will demonstrate that the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy to decarbonise industrial processes and heavy transport is technically and commercially viable.
While this project is limited to four turbines in the current location, it is a key early step in the region and Aotearoa's emission reduction journey, as it will provide learnings and the market development required to support larger renewable and decarbonisation projects.
Projects like this take many years to develop and consent, and this is one of the first projects ready for construction that couples wind generation with hydrogen production, creating new technical capability and new skilled jobs and opportunities in Aotearoa.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Apr 2018
Project initiated with
feasibility assessment.
Dec 2019
Introduction of project to Ngāruahine Board.
Conditional approval for NZ Government investment in project.
Jan 2020
Independent studies commenced to support consent process.
Feb 2021
Ministerial approval
for fast track consent process.
Dec 2021
Consent granted.
Q1 2026
Siteworks & construction
scheduled to
begin.
Q4 2026
Turbine components arrive on site & erection begins.
2027
Turbines functional. Green hydrogen available.
June 2019
Wind monitoring begins.