From creating next-generation green fuels to unlocking unused geothermal heat and peering deep beneath our volcanoes, these studies will advance the scientific foundations needed for a more sustainable, resilient Aotearoa New Zealand.
Cracking the seismic code beneath our volcanoes
New Zealand’s volcanoes have demonstrated their power to disrupt communities and industries. Yet, even with decades of monitoring, it remains difficult to distinguish between harmless rumblings and signs of imminent eruption. The challenge lies in interpreting the complex signals of volcanic unrest – such as seismic activity, ground deformation, and gas emissions – and linking them to what’s really happening kilometres underground.
That's why we're working on a groundbreaking project using distant earthquakes to peer into the volcanic plumbing systems of Aotearoa.
Earthquake Analyst Dr Pasan Herath will use seismic waves from distant earthquakes to detect subtle changes in underground rock properties at four active volcanoes – Ruapehu, Tongariro, Taupō, and Whakaari/White Island.
“These changes can reveal whether unrest is caused by shallow hydrothermal pressure or deeper magma movement – each with very different eruption risks,” says Dr Herath.
This innovative approach could transform how volcanic unrest is monitored, offering new layers of insight to complement existing tools. The project also embraces Mātauranga Māori, with a Māori summer student joining the team to explore volcano-monitoring data and build capability in earth sciences.
Ultimately, this research could lead to more accurate eruption forecasts, timely evacuations, and reduced economic and environmental losses.
Breaking the N₂ Barrier: A new frontier for green ammonia
Ammonia is one of the world’s most essential industrial chemicals used to produce fertilisers that feed half the planet. But its conventional production process, the Haber–Bosch method, relies on fossil fuels and contributes to roughly 1–2 % of global CO₂ emissions. Finding a cleaner way to make ammonia could revolutionise both agriculture and energy.
We're making a bold attempt to produce ammonia directly from air and water using electricity at room temperature.
This project explores a new class of ion-beam-engineered catalysts that could finally overcome the N₂ barrier. Using Earth Sciences NZ’s particle accelerators and advanced isotope-labelling techniques, the research team will test whether these materials can truly break the strong bonds of nitrogen molecules (N₂) and form ammonia electrochemically.
If successful, this discovery could pave the way for green ammonia – a carbon-free fuel that can be stored, transported, and used for clean energy generation. Green ammonia also holds promise for sustainable fertiliser production, particularly benefiting Māori agribusiness and large-scale farming in the future.
“Ammonia has long been the missing link in the transition to clean energy because of its energy density and versatility,” says project lead Dr Prasanth Gupta.
Unlocking waste heat: Turning geothermal heat into extra electricity
Huge amounts of heat energy are lost from geothermal plants and industrial processes. In New Zealand, much of our geothermal resource operates below 150 °C, a temperature range that current technologies struggle to convert efficiently into electricity. This wasted energy represents a missed opportunity for both sustainability and economic gain.
That's why we're developing thermomagnetic generators (TMGs) that will convert that heat energy into even more electricity.
TMGs use special magnetic materials that change their properties with temperature, generating electricity without moving parts. This makes them durable, low-maintenance, and ideal for continuous operation in geothermal or industrial settings.
The Earth Sciences NZ and Victoria University of Wellington team will enhance the performance of these materials by tailoring their atomic structure. The goal is to overcome a key limitation known as thermal hysteresis, which reduces efficiency in current systems.
“Improving these materials could unlock the ability to generate electricity from geothermal or industrial waste heat that is currently too cool to use,” says project lead Dr John Kennedy.
Beyond geothermal, this technology could benefit food processing, remote farming, and off-grid sites by enabling on-site electricity generation from waste heat. It supports national goals for energy efficiency, lower emissions, and renewable energy resilience, helping to reduce pressure on the electricity grid.
Tracing the Earth’s rare gases: Unlocking deep-crust secrets for clean energy
As Aotearoa New Zealand looks toward new energy frontiers, from natural hydrogen to secure carbon storage, scientists need to understand how gases and fluids move deep within the Earth’s crust. However, current geochemical tools often fail under the extreme temperatures and pressures found kilometres underground, making it hard to predict how these systems behave.
Our new experimental study will reveal how noble gases like helium, neon, and xenon move through deep rock and groundwater systems.
These rare gases are valuable tracers for understanding subsurface processes because they don’t react chemically. Some are produced by natural radioactivity in rocks and slowly leak into groundwater over millions of years. By simulating these deep-crust conditions in the lab, the team will measure how different gases are released and transported.
The findings will improve models used to explore natural hydrogen and helium resources, assess geothermal reservoirs, and ensure the safety of underground carbon or waste storage.
“This work gives us a window into the unseen processes occurring several kilometres below our feet,” project lead Dr David Byrne explains. “It will help us use the deep subsurface more safely and sustainably as we move toward a low-carbon future.”
Why New Zealand needs energy and earth science
Fundamental research like these Marsden-funded projects provides the building blocks for breakthrough technologies that can reshape our energy systems, safeguard our environment, and prepare us for natural hazards.
By investing in deep, curiosity-driven science today, New Zealand is laying the groundwork for the energy and public safety science solutions of tomorrow.