GasNZ Forum 2024

Held every two years, New Zealand’s only dedicated gas sector conference brought together 120 of the sector’s key decision-makers, influencers, experts, and suppliers to share strategic insights and sector developments. ​​​

As well as the current state of the industry, this year’s GasNZ Forum had a focus on New Zealand’s path to net zero emissions by 2050, and the role of gas energy – both new and old – in getting there.​​​​

Thanks so much to the generous sponsors and exhibitors that came on board to support the forum - we couldn’t have had such a successful event without you. Our Platinum sponsor once again was Elgas and our Silver sponsors were Verbrec, EECA and Alexander Group.

Click here for Dropbox links to photos from the forum. Click into the folders for low resolution or high resolution versions of the photos.

The full programme of the GasNZ Forum 2024 is set out below. Click the links for the YouTube videos of the presentations and powerpoint pdfs.

WELCOME - DAY ONE

GasNZ Chair, Nick Hannan and Ministerial Address, Hon. Simeon Brown, Minister of Energy (YouTube 16 mins)

The Context for Gas Today

SETTING THE SCENE: GAS IN NZ TODAY AND TOMORROW

Declining gas production and other system constraints have made Winter 2024 a challenging one for energy security in NZ. John examines the current place of gas in the NZ energy system, with a focus on short-to medium-term risks and opportunities, options available to respond to the supply shortfall, and an assessment of how commercially and politically feasible they are (YouTube 37 mins, powerpoint pdf 24 pages)

John Kidd, Director & Head of Research, Enerlytica

PANEL DISCUSSION - GAS SECURITY AND THE FUTURE OF GAS

A panel of sector leaders, who provide their insights into the market conditions, challenges and opportunities around the security of supply factors discussed in the first part of the session, and their responses to audience questions (YouTube 51 mins)

Paul Stocks, Deputy Secretary: Building, Resources and Markets, MBIE
Andrew Knight, CEO, Gas Industry Company
Paul Goodeve, CEO, Clarus
John Kidd, Director & Head of Research, Enerlytica

Developments in Renewable Gas in New Zealand

THE PATHWAY TO PLENTIFUL RENEWABLE GAS SUPPLIES IN NZ

Scaling Up to Significant Renewable Gas Production in New Zealand

Biomethane and hydrogen could meet domestic demand for gas by 2050. What are the near to medium term scale-up opportunities? What feedstocks are available to supply production facilities? What are the main use cases for renewable gas in New Zealand and how might these uses evolve over time? What are the main policy and commercial barriers to growing the industry to help achieve our net zero 2050 target? (YouTube 24 mins, powerpoint pdf 26 pages)

Ben Gerritsen, GM Customer & Regulation, Clarus

Creating an Effective Renewable Gas Market in New Zealand

Brave Trace is rolling-out renewable gas certificates to facilitate the creation of renewable gas markets in New Zealand. What is needed to deliver robust traceability and low-carbon value capture for biogas upgraded to biomethane, renewable LPG, and for hydrogen generation? (YouTube 18 mins, powerpoint pdf 35 pages)

Shaun Goldsbury, CEO, Brave Trace

ACCELERATING RENEWABLE GAS: GENERATING VALUE FROM BIOMETHANE TODAY

Pumping Gas

Pumping gas: Renewable gas is now being injected into the Clarus natural gas network at the Ecogas facility in Reporoa, with more projects under development around the country. What have we learned? What are the next opportunities? What will accelerate new supply? (YouTube 30 mins, powerpoint pdf 12 pages)

Dr Alzbeta Bouskova Houghton, CTO, Ecogas
James Irvine, GM, Future Fuels, Clarus First Renewables

Energy and Nutrient Hubs

Local bodies, kiwi rural communities and industries are sitting on uptapped value in their waste streams. Learn how Ara Ake’s Energy and Nutrient Hub concept shows how to unlock this value through biogas and fertiliser through a regional circular economy model (YouTube 16 mins, powerpoint pdf 11 pages)

Chase Hancock, Portfolio Manager, Ara Ake

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS IN RENEWABLE LIQUID GAS

David updates us on key global developments and trends in Renewable Liquid Gas and LPG, and their likely impacts for New Zealand
(YouTube 50 mins, powerpoint pdf 26 pages)

David Tyler, Director, World Liquid Gas Association

DAY TWO

GASNZ STRATEGY AND PLAN

GasNZ's refreshed strategy and focus for the coming years (YouTube 17 mins)

Nick Hannan, Chair, GasNZ
Jeffrey Clarke, CE, GasNZ

NETWORKS AND RESILIENCE

FLEXIBILITY AND RESILIENCE THROUGH LPG

It's high energy value, paired with rugged portable formats, makes LPG ideal to support energy resilience in disasters.

Cyclone Gabrielle

How LPG played a key role in restoring heating and cooking during the Cyclone Gabrielle response (YouTube 22 mins, powerpoint pdf 9 pages)

Martin Kleine-Deters, National Transport Operations Manager, Elgas

Lessons learned from Kobe

How LPG networks were rapidly restored to support recovery during the Kobe earthquake in Japan, and the lessons learned (YouTube 11 mins, powerpoint pdf 13 pages)

Albert de Geest, CEO, Liquigas

Christchurch Earthquake

Design benefits from Kobe’s lessons; network resilience; and the difference LPG made to the people of Christchurch following the quake
(YouTube 23 mins, powerpoint pdf 13 pages)

Rowan Smith, Manager LPG Engineering, Rockgas

PERSPECTIVES ON THE JOURNEY TO NET ZERO EMISSIONS WITH GAS

Hear from EECA about sustainability, consumer perceptions, emission reductions, and the way they see the future of gas within the industrial sector in New Zealand. What are some of the different use cases for gas across different industries, as we strive for net zero emissions? How does EECA see its role in supporting gas customers to increase their energy efficiency? (YouTube 32 mins, powerpoint pdf 14 pages)

Dr Marcos Pelenur, CEO, EECA - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority

YES WE CAN: HOW KIWIS WILL SWITCH TO RENEWABLE GAS NETWORKS AND APPLIANCES

We’ve done this before. In the 1970s, the North Island made the transition from “town gas” produced in local gasworks to a very different networked natural gas supply. What does that transition teach us about the next transition of our networks and appliances to renewable gas? We examine the lessons from history, and the modern appliances and technologies that will shape our next transition to renewable gases (YouTube 47 mins, powerpoint pdf 20 pages)

Grant Bourke, NZ Institution of Gas Engineers

LEARNING FROM OUR EXHIBITORS

Updates from two of the businesses sharing their services and products at the forum (YouTube 10 mins)

Peter May, General Manager NZ, Verbrec
Thomas Wiseman, Operations Manager/Director, Total Instrument Services and H2X

HYDROGEN, HAZARDS AND WORKFORCE

HYDROGEN: NEAR, MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM PROSPECTS IN NZ

Hiringa Energy and their partners provide an overview of the state of play for hydrogen: What are the range of realistic scenarios and use-cases for hydrogen in New Zealand? What conditions would make the economics stack up? What does hydrogen mean to the businesses who are the early adopters in the recent wave?
(YouTube 56 mins)

Cathy Clennett, Executive Director & Head of Commercial and Corporate Development, Hiringa Energy (powerpoint pdf 6 pages)
Grant Doull, National Manager Hydrogen & Eco Commercial vehicles, Hyundai NZ (powerpoint pdf 7 pages)
Bob Weston, Director - Future Thinking, Entec (powerpoint pdf 4 pages)

EFFECTIVE HAZARD MANAGEMENT

Focus on Operational Oversight

WorkSafe will be increasing its focus on operational oversight of contractors working on-site, especially for smaller businesses: What does this mean for LPG retailers and other operators? (YouTube 19 mins, powerpoint pdf 13 pages)

Liam Gannon, Deputy Chief Inspector - Major Hazard Facilities, WorkSafe

HSE the Ongas way

How putting people and compliance ahead of production provides above-average results and a safe and sustainable workplace
(YouTube 16 mins, powerpoint pdf 18 pages)

Craig Crocombe, Head of Operations, Ongas

BUILDING A WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE

Our workforce in transition

A just transition to net zero requires that our workforce is at the heart of the journey. What should this look like? (YouTube 14 mins)

Glen Bennett, List MP for Taranaki, Associate Labour spokesperson for Energy and spokesperson for Economic Development

The future of training for gas

Do we have the right training and support systems to ensure we have the skills we need for the energy transformations that are coming?
(YouTube 12 mins, powerpoint pdf 13 pages)

Greg Wallace, CEO, Master Plumbers NZ

Powerco’s strategy to rise to the capability challenge ahead

With a diverse and inclusive workforce – and how this commitment is impacting the business with enhanced attraction and retention
(YouTube 11 mins, powerpoint pdf 11 pages)

Leile Sims, Head of People & Culture, Powerco

Building a Workforce for the Future Q&As

Questions and answers with the GasNZ Forum audience (YouTube 29 mins)

FORUM 2024 WRAP UP AND COMMENTS

Nick Hannan, GasNZ, Chair (YouTube 7 mins)