Page 11 - Gi_May2021

international news

NEW ZEALAND’S GAS PIPELINE delivered to consumers via a network of
In the North Island, natural gas is
pipelines. The South Island does not have
NETWORK TO TRANSITION TO this infrastructure, Firstgas explained.
Speaking to The AM Show following
the announcement, Hydrogen Project
100% HYDROGEN BY 2050 Leader Angela Ogier said the plan will
ensure the benefits of gas can continue
in a zero carbon future.
“It’s a way for us to keep using our
barbecues, keep having those long, hot
showers with our hot water heaters, and
keep using our gas hobs in [a] future of
net zero [carbon emissions],” she said.
At this stage, hydrogen is mostly
produced from fossil fuels. However, in the
future it’s hoped the clean alternative can
be produced using electricity and water,
through a process called electrolysis.
“At the moment it is more expensive,”
Ogier told The AM Show. “[But] this type
NEW ZEALAND PLANS TO USE HYDROGEN of technology is coming down the cost
GAS IN A ZERO CARBON FUTURE curb. We anticipate by 2030 the cost
will have halved.”
A NEW BLUEPRINT plotting the course gas users without requiring any change The plan aims to meet the objectives
to transition New Zealand’s gas pipeline to existing appliances. The blends can be of the Zero Carbon Act without gas
network from natural gas to 100 per gradually introduced regionally from 2030. users resorting to electrification or
cent hydrogen by 2050 has been The conversion of networks to 100 carbon offsets – or replacing their
unveiled by Firstgas Group. per cent hydrogen gas will begin from current gas equipment.
The plans will see hydrogen blended 2035, Firstgas said. This allows time for The Climate Change Response (Zero
into the North Island’s natural gas appliances to be replaced with technology Carbon) Amendment Act, setting out New
network from 2030, with conversion to able to operate on pure hydrogen. Zealand’s goal to reach zero net carbon
a 100 per cent hydrogen grid by 2050, Complete conversion of the gas emissions by 2050 and reduce methane
reports H2 View. network to 100 per cent hydrogen is emissions by 24-47 per cent, was
Firstgas Group confirmed its scheduled for 2050, Firstgas said. introduced by the government in 2019.
networks can deliver sufficient Currently, New Zealand uses both The legislation provides a framework
hydrogen to decarbonise the natural gas methane, also known as natural gas, to contribute to the global effort under
network by 2050. and bottled liquid petroleum gas (LPG) the Paris Agreement to limit the global
Hydrogen blends of up to 20 per cent to heat homes and businesses and average temperature increase to 1.5°C
reduce the carbon emissions of natural generate electricity. above pre-industrial levels.

SAUDI ARABIA TO PLANT 10 BILLION also announced environmental plans
Other countries in the region have
TREES TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE including Qatar, which claims it will
plant 16,000 trees in readiness for
hosting next year’s football World Cup.
SAUDI ARABIA, ONE OF the world’s and that, as our pioneering role in The Saudi initiative was outlined in
largest oil producers, has announced stabilising energy markets during the a statement but did not reveal how the
ambitious proposals for a “green oil and gas era, we will act to lead the plans would be realised in a region with
initiative” to tackle climate change next green era.” extremely limited water resources.
with plans including the planting of 10 The initiative is part of Saudi
billion trees across the kingdom. Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims
The Saudi Green Initiative aims to wean the country off oil.
to reduce the country’s emissions Saudi Arabia is the world’s second-
by generating half of its energy from largest oil producer, after the United
renewables by 2030. The move was States, accounting for around 12 per
championed by Saudi’s de facto ruler cent of global production.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, The Crown Prince said it was
according to The Independent. necessary to cut global carbon
He said: “As a leading global oil emissions as Saudi Arabia and the
producer, we are fully aware of our entire Gulf region faced, “significant
share of responsibility in advancing climate challenges”, which posed an SAUDI CROWN PRINCE
the fight against the climate crisis “immediate economic risk”. MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN

11

15/04/2021 13:57
News.indd 6
News.indd 6 15/04/2021 13:57