Micro-Hydro Energy for New Zealand

We build, own, and operate clean energy from New Zealand rivers

Earth First works with communities, landowners, and infrastructure providers to generate firm, continuous electricity from water resources — delivering energy resilience and ongoing compensation to our partners.

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What is Micro-Hydro?

Clean electricity from flowing water

Micro-hydro is the simplest form of electricity generation: water flows through a compact turbine and spins a generator. No dam. No reservoir. No disruption to the river or canal.

Unlike solar or wind, micro-hydro generates power continuously — day and night, rain or shine. It provides firm, baseload electricity that communities and businesses can rely on around the clock.

Modern micro-hydro systems need as little as 1.5 metres of natural elevation drop and work on rivers, streams, and irrigation canals. They are fish-safe, have a small physical footprint, and operate for decades with minimal maintenance.

Micro-hydro is not new — it has powered communities worldwide for over a century. What is new is the availability of compact, low-impact systems that make smaller waterways viable for generation.

1.5m+ Compact turbine No dam · No diversion Power to grid or site Water flows in → → Water flows out

Micro-hydro ranges from 5 kW to 1,000 kW per site — from a single rural property to an entire community or irrigation network. Here is what that means in practice:

5–20 kW
Small scale
A remote homestead, a farm shed, or an off-grid property. Enough to replace a diesel generator and provide continuous, clean electricity.
50–100 kW
Medium scale
A medium-sized farming operation or a small community — around 25 to 50 homes powered continuously, day and night.
200–1,000 kW
Large scale
A rural village, a processing plant, or a canal network with multiple generation points. Up to 500 homes, or the equivalent of a small wind farm — but generating 24/7.
Our Model

A straightforward proposition

Earth First builds, owns, and operates micro-hydro generation assets in New Zealand, working with local communities, landowners, canal operators, and water infrastructure providers. Each partner provides access to the water resource and receives ongoing compensation for that access — with no capital investment, no operational responsibility, and no technical risk.

Energy Resilience

Distributed hydro generation remains operational during extreme weather events — exactly when centralised supply is most vulnerable. Firm, continuous power around the clock.

Local Power Supply

Electricity generated on-site, close to where it is needed. Reduced dependence on distant generation and long transmission lines.

Ongoing Compensation

Partners receive ongoing compensation for the use of their water resource — turning an existing natural asset into a durable income stream.

What This Looks Like

Three applications

The same model adapts to different contexts. The partner provides access to the water and receives compensation; Earth First handles everything else.

Illustrative image of a rural New Zealand village alongside a river with a micro-hydro generation facility
Rural Community

Microgrid

A rural community alongside a river experiences frequent power outages during storms. The community has no appetite for capital expenditure but wants energy independence.

Earth First installs and operates micro-hydro on the river
The community receives ongoing compensation for water access
Locally generated electricity is available to purchase at stable rates
Distributed generation improves resilience during extreme weather
No capital investment from the community. No operational burden.
Illustrative image of a New Zealand farming operation with an irrigation canal and micro-hydro generation point
Farming Operation

Dairy Farm

A farming operation with an irrigation canal running through the property. The water already flows — it just doesn't generate anything yet.

Earth First installs micro-hydro alongside the existing canal
The farmer receives ongoing compensation for water access
Electricity is available to the farm and surplus is exported to the grid
The canal continues to operate as before — no disruption to irrigation
Existing infrastructure. New income. No change to farm operations.
Illustrative image of a New Zealand irrigation canal system with multiple micro-hydro generation points
Canal Operator

Green Irrigation

A canal operator manages water infrastructure for irrigation across a district. The water flows year-round through channels with built-in elevation drops.

Earth First installs multiple units at suitable drop points along the canal
The operator receives ongoing compensation for water access
Generated electricity benefits local irrigators and the wider grid
Canal operations continue unaffected
Turning existing water infrastructure into a generation asset.

Figures are illustrative. Actual project details are determined site by site with each partner.

How It Works

From feasibility to generation

A structured, phased approach. Each stage delivers clear outputs before committing to the next.

1

Feasibility & Concept

Site assessment, hydrology, technology evaluation, grid connection feasibility, and community benefits assessment.

2

Commercial Agreement

Water use agreement, energy supply terms, and commercial framework between Earth First and the partner.

3

Design & Construction

Consenting, engineering design, grid connection, civil works, equipment installation, and commissioning.

4

Operations

Ongoing generation, environmental monitoring, grid export, and community energy supply. Earth First operates — the partner receives compensation.

Our Team

Experience across energy, investment, and government

CT

Chris Tremain

Partner

Former NZ Cabinet Minister. Chairman, Bank of China (NZ). Founder of Tremain Capital. Extensive experience in investment management and Hawke's Bay business leadership.

OM

Otávio Marshall

Partner

Renewable energy specialist with 8+ years in project development. Background in energy regulation, finance, and law. Master's in Applied Management. Based in Auckland, New Zealand.

CH

Christian Hunt

Partner

Serial entrepreneur and investor with 30+ years across energy, real estate, and startups. Wind and solar energy experience in Brazil. Harvard Business School (OPM).

Get in Touch

Let's explore the potential

If you have access to a water resource and are interested in generating clean energy with no capital investment or operational burden, we'd welcome a conversation.

Email
om@earthfirst.net.nz
Phone
+64 27 375 8241
Location
Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand