Source: New Zealand Government
It is such a great pleasure to be here for this official opening of the Ecogas Reporoa Site – this first large scale commercial anaerobic digestor in Aotearoa – a highly novel and valuable addition to our energy and waste management infrastructure.
It certainly represents an important step towards our renewable future. I commend everyone involved for daring to undertake a project of this scale, and to lead from the front in establishing this New Zealand first. It is an honour to be here.
The Government was proud to provide a $7 million loan through the Provincial Growth Fund to go towards its development.
As I understand it – the plant will recover energy, carbon dioxide and nutrients from up to 75 thousand tonnes of food waste from councils and industrial food producers, meaning it has the potential to significantly reduce the volume of food scraps going into landfill, which make up almost half the weight of household rubbish and will provide a valuable source of biofertilizer and biogas.
And just as importantly – for a Government that remains highly focused on the sensible management of our economy – once operational, the plant will provide up to 35 full-time positions, many of these, highly skilled science and engineering jobs. It’s this kind of value add that will help us withstand any global downturn, while moving towards a more sustainable future.
But back to – where we are here today. This project is an excellent example of successful partnership between industry and local government. Auckland City Council has played a central role by committing to separate collection of food waste as a key step in transition to a circular and sustainable future for its community.
The Council has recognised the importance of bio digestion for organic waste processing and of the long-term security of feedstock supply for the viability of these facilities. This ultimately underwrites the scale of this project, being the largest bio digestion facility, not only in New Zealand, but in the entire Southern Hemisphere.
Ecogas has also teamed up with Turners and Growers. To enhance the growth of tomatoes the facility will provide carbon dioxide and heat for Turners and Growers’ local glasshouse.
I hope that this operation will prove to be a beacon for more collaborative multi-sectoral projects, as well as the development of a bioenergy industry here in New Zealand and to demonstrate how it is that we can move away from fossil gas to renewable alternatives.
In the gas sector, Ecogas, working in tandem with Firstgas, is leading the exploration of the injection of biomethane into the fossil gas grid. If successful, this could pave the way for other bioenergy producers to make use of our existing gas infrastructure, helping to drive the some of the changes set out in our Emissions Reduction Plan – through actions like the development of a Gas Transition Plan, a circular economy and bio-economy strategy, as well as a range of other bioenergy initiatives – that all come together to form part of a wider Energy Strategy. There will be opportunities for you to get involved in the development of these.
As a recap – the Gas Transition Plan will set out the immediate steps on what will be a long journey to phasing-out fossil gas, which will help establish ambitious, but realistic goals to decarbonise and reduce our reliance on fossil gas, while still providing for some fossil gas use in 2035 where this makes sense. We are aiming to complete this work by the end of 2023, and our wider Energy Strategy by the end of 2024.
It will also investigate how we can provide security of gas supply to our industrial users as we transition to net zero emissions in 2050. I am keen to ensure this Plan includes an estimation of costs for various transition pathways.
We have also committed to a circular economy with a thriving bioeconomy by 2050. Again, we have set out the necessary actions in our Emissions Reduction Plan to map out how we seize the opportunities this presents, including helping us to displace the role that fossil fuels play in our economy.
Right now, we are focused on gathering information and evidence to find the best ways that we can move to a more circular economy that best fit New Zealand’s needs. This will feed into our Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Strategy.
It goes without saying that throughout all of this work industry and government have an important role to play, and much to gain from driving the changes needed, all the while enhancing the reputation, and balance sheet of New Zealand INC.
To this end renewable gases, such as biogas present multiple advantages. They can help lower emissions and recycle waste, while at the same time retaining gas for applications where it is still required, such as in commercial kitchens and high-temperature process heat. They also support wider energy diversity, and security of energy supply for consumers.
Using organic waste for biogas has potential co-benefits of emissions reductions beyond the energy sector. It is estimated that using organic waste for biogas could prevent up to 95 of disposal carbon dioxide equivalents that would be emitted if that material went to landfill.
It is great to see a growing number of businesses, like Ecogas, taking a lead in developing renewable gas options.
So – in closing I want to take this opportunity to once again acknowledge Pioneer and Ecostock for their leadership, and Auckland City Council and Turners and Growers for their vision and dedication.
I think we can all feel encouraged by the opening of this new facility as it demonstrates the industry’s commitment to decarbonisation, and shows what partnership can power.
