Over the past four years, Ecogas has demonstrated that food waste is far more than a disposal challenge—it is a valuable resource capable of producing renewable energy, low-carbon fertilisers and recycled carbon dioxide.
As the company has progressed from proving its anaerobic digestion technology at Reporoa to expanding nationally, the BPA has played an important role in supporting the research, collaboration and innovation that underpin its growth.
One of the company’s most significant milestones has been successfully bringing its Reporoa facility into stable commercial operation. The site now converts food waste into renewable biomethane that is injected directly into New Zealand’s natural gas network—the country’s first commercial gas-to-grid biomethane project.
At the same time, Ecogas has completed another important part of the circular economy by supplying recovered bio-CO₂ to tomato grower T&G Global’s nearby glasshouse operations. Together with its biofertiliser production, the facility now captures value from every stage of the anaerobic digestion process.
For Ecogas, achieving this fully integrated system has been a defining moment.
“We have closed the loop fully in Reporoa,” says Dr Alzbeta Bouskova Houghton, Chief Technology Officer at Ecogas, pointing to renewable gas, bio-CO₂ and biofertiliser as tangible examples of how organic waste can become valuable products rather than emissions at landfill.
The experience gained at Reporoa is now being applied to the company’s second organics processing plant in Christchurch.
Following the signing of a services agreement with Christchurch City Council, the project has progressed through contractor selection, resource consenting and construction, with commissioning targeted for the third quarter of 2027.
While the Christchurch facility builds on the proven Reporoa model, it also incorporates new product streams. Unlike Reporoa, which processes primarily food waste, Christchurch will accept food and garden organics (FOGO), which creates opportunities to produce additional products.
One notable innovation will be the production of compressed digestate fibre briquettes from garden waste. These will be supplied as a renewable biomass fuel for Canterbury’s industrial heat sector, extending the value recovered from organic waste even further.
Many of the engineering improvements incorporated into the Christchurch facility have come directly from operational experience at Reporoa, including design changes to improve plant operability and maintainability, the use of proven contractors and suppliers and refinements to project delivery.
Alongside commercial development, research partnerships have continued to strengthen Ecogas’ capabilities.
The company has deepened its collaboration with the University of Auckland, working with Professor Saeid Baroutian on digestate composition research, while continuing carbon intensity methodology work with Toitū Envirocare.
Ecogas has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with Cetogenix (another BPA-supported business) to demonstrate emerging technology at the Reporoa site.
These collaborations reflect the same model championed by the BPA of bringing together industry and research organisations to accelerate innovation and strengthen commercial outcomes.
“Our progress from Reporoa to Christchurch shows what is possible when research, innovation and industry work together—and demonstrates the role that collaborative programmes such as the BPA can play in helping New Zealand businesses scale solutions with lasting environmental and economic impact.” – Dr Alzbeta Bouskova Houghton, Chief Technology Officer – Ecogas
As the business has grown, Ecogas’ understanding of the wider opportunities within the circular bioeconomy has also evolved.
While diverting food waste from landfill remains important, the company increasingly sees renewable gas production as a critical contributor to New Zealand’s future energy resilience and independence. Biofertiliser markets have matured, with Fertify® now achieving DBPAS certification and establishing a stable customer base, while demand for renewable biomethane continues to grow.
The successful supply of bio-CO₂ to T&G Global demonstrates another valuable revenue stream that reduces emissions while supporting resilience and independence of New Zealand food production.
Ecogas believes many of the remaining challenges are no longer technological.
Instead, the barriers are largely policy and market related. The company argues that policies targeting diversion of organic waste from landfill, alongside clear renewable gas targets, would accelerate investment and create a stronger foundation for the anaerobic digestion sector.
The company has become an increasingly active voice in these discussions, contributing submissions on emissions trading regulations, organic waste policy and sustainable finance frameworks. This advocacy reflects a growing recognition that innovation alone is not enough—Ecogas says that supportive policy settings are key to the accelerated unlocking of the full potential of New Zealand’s bioeconomy.
Looking ahead, Ecogas’ priorities are clear. Over the next two years, the company aims to deliver the Christchurch facility on schedule while expanding the Reporoa plant to process up to 100,000 tonnes of organic material annually. Beyond that, it sees opportunities for additional projects across both New Zealand and Australia, where recently introduced legislation in organic waste diversion is creating new market opportunities.
Throughout this growth, the collaborative approach promoted by the BPA continues to provide an important foundation. By encouraging partnerships between researchers, industry and government, the BPA has helped create an environment where innovative technologies can move beyond demonstration and into commercial reality.
Ecogas believes New Zealand has all the ingredients required to become a leader in the circular bioeconomy.
“The challenge now is ensuring that organic waste is recognised not as a disposal problem, but as a valuable national resource capable of producing renewable energy, reducing emissions and supporting more resilient food and energy systems,” says Dr Bouskova Houghton.
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