Kapuni: wind, fertiliser and hydrogen in one place

New Zealand is testing a setup that brings wind, fertiliser and fuel together at one grid point. At Kapuni, Taranaki, four Vestas V162-6.4 MW turbines will supply the Ballance plant and a local 5 MW electrolyser producing up to two tonnes of green hydrogen per day, and export the surplus to the national grid, according to EcoPortal.

Vestas' announcement of 5 February 2026 sets out the contract: a 26 MW order from Hiringa Energy covering supply, installation and a 20-year service agreement, with deliveries from the first quarter of 2026 and commissioning planned for the second quarter of 2027.

A single manufacturer answers for the machines and their maintenance for two decades. That simplifies the interface and makes availability more predictable, which is what a wind-fed electrolyser relies on. It also concentrates dependence: parts, technicians and repair times run through one contract.

The model's strength is having three outlets for the same energy. Plant, hydrogen and grid reduce exposure to a single buyer. The next verifiable milestone is commissioning in 2027.