September 10, 2020
Māori trust pioneers green hydrogen energy
Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern today launched her party’s energy policy at the site of what is set to be the country’s first green hydrogen production facility.
Halcyon Power in Mokai near Taupō is a joint venture between Tuaropaki Trust and Japan’s Obayashi Corporation, with the 1.5-megawatt hydrogen production project is scheduled to be operational by early 2021.
It’s next to Tuaropaki’s existing geothermal power plant, and some of the hydrogen will be used to run the fleet of tankers collecting milk for the Miraka processing factory.
Some will be exported to Japan.
Tuaropaki chief executive Steve Murray says the focus on renewable, ‘green’ energy fits with the trust’s philosophy.
Ms Ardern promised further investment in emerging technologies like green hydrogen, to position New Zealand as a world leader in renewable energy.
Labour was also bringing forward its target date to 2030 for the country to be on 100 percent renewable energy.
A future Labour Government will also investigate pump hydro, where water is pumped back into storage lakes turning them into giant batteries.
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