Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Hiringa Energy recently confirmed a Joint Development Agreement for a major clean-tech project in Taranaki to produce ‘green’ hydrogen using renewable energy.
The USD50 M showcase project of Taranaki’s new energy future will be based at Ballance’s Kapuni ammonia-urea plant, and is seen as a catalyst for the development of a sustainable green hydrogen market in New Zealand to fuel heavy transport – as fleet operators push to reduce carbon emissions (C02-e) in response to Zero Carbon legislative change.
Under the Joint Development Agreement, the two companies are planning the construction of up to four large wind turbines (with a total capacity of 16 MW) to supply 100% renewable electricity directly to the Kapuni site, and also power electrolyzers (electrolysis plant) to produce high-purity hydrogen) for feedstock into the ammonia-urea plant or for supply as ‘zero-emission’ transport fuel.
The project is a key step for the energy sector transition in Taranaki, with the region already having two large-scale hydrogen users – Methanex and Ballance Kapuni. The existing core competency in hydrogen production and use at Ballance’s Kapuni site is an excellent platform.
