Ecogas Celebrates one year of operations!
Ecogas, a pioneering leader in sustainable energy solutions, proudly celebrates its first year of successful operations. The company is dedicated to closing the food and energy loop and has demonstrated impressive growth and impact within its first year, reaffirming its commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Ecogas Reporoa is officially opened by Hon Dr Megan Woods - October 2022
Since its opening on 20 October 2022, Ecogas has processed over 20,000 tonnes of food scraps. Had this waste ended up in our landfills, it would have released over 13,480 tonnes of CO2 into our atmosphere. By utilising anaerobic digestion technology, Ecogas has not only avoided over 13,040 tonnes of these emissions but created sources of renewable electricity, heat and fertiliser. Almost 16,000 tonnes of Fertify Regenerative Fertiliser has been harvested and spread on local farmland supporting soil resilience and lessening reliance on imported and synthetic fertilisers.
The first year of operations has been eventful, marked by several milestones, including winning the New Zealand Energy Excellence Low Carbon Future Award and the wasteMINZ Organic Sector Award. Ecogas has collaborated with Auckland Council across the roll out of their Rukenga Kai Food Scraps collections with almost every suburb now on board and over 7,200 tonnes having been collected and processed. Ecogas also assisted with disaster relief efforts following Cyclone Gabrielle in the Hawkes Bay and Auckland regions, diverting over 60 tonnes of unsafe food from landfill and reducing the risk of associated public health risks.
Looking ahead to 2024, Ecogas has no intention of slowing down. Plans are already underway to increase processing capacity from 75,000 tonnes per annum to 100,000 tonnes per annum in order to support more communities and councils across the North Island. The biogas upgrading project, in partnership with FirstRenewables, is well underway and will see New Zealand injecting the first renewable gas into the grid. Additional anaerobic digestion facilities are in development across New Zealand, with the next opportunities identified in Canterbury and the Lower North Island.
Dr. Alzbeta Bouskova Houghton, General Manager of Ecogas, reflects on the year's achievements with pride, stating, "I’m truly proud of each and every member of our team, both on the ground and across the wider business and our founding partners. Everyone involved has had such an impact not just on ensuring the success of this facility, but in proving that anaerobic digestion is the way of the future for sustainable waste organic management. Winning the Low Carbon Future award, in particular, highlighted the industry recognition that this is a viable, effective solution to closing the food and energy loop across the motu.”
Managing Director Fraser Jonker echoed these thoughts, "We are thrilled to have achieved so much in this first year. The demand for environmentally responsible waste and energy solutions is growing, and we are excited to continue leading the way in providing sustainable options for organic waste management. Our success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, our customers' support, and our commitment to a circular future."
Attendees at the inaugural Community Open Day - 3 November 2023
To celebrate this milestone, Ecogas hosted a Community Open Day on Friday, November 3rd. "This was an opportunity for us to celebrate with our neighbours and bring the community together to see what we are all about." says Bouskova Houghton “The level of interest that we continue to see is astounding. We are constantly being asked to host site tours or speak to individuals, groups, schools, and universities. Celebrating with locals takes us back to our 85% community ownership through founding partner Pioneer Energy and their owner the Central Lakes Trust.”
As Ecogas embarks on its second year of operations, it looks forward to closing the loop a little more.