2024 Award Winners

This category recognises innovative outside-the-box thinking, based on a solution or solutions that challenge traditional models & ways of doing things. Submission may be a technology solution, a process to achieve better outcomes for PV and/or BESS, a new PV-based business model, and/or a different approach to a common problem around PV installation. It should challenge existing processes or technology with the ability to be scaled & made available to the wider industry.

Winner: Re/volve Energy

Re/volve Energy win for their three-part software solution that addresses the persistent problems that impact solar system operations:

• Construction Monitoring and Digital Twin Creation
• Operational Thermographic Imaging
• Data Aquisition and Dashboards

What the judges liked

• “Re/volve have found a gap in the market and developed a solution at a great price point”
• “This will help asset owners and managers ensure peak returns”
• “A great solution that will contribute to the longevity of systems”
• “A meaningful contribution with application across the industry”

Example video here

Find out more about Re/volve Energy

The Best Environmental Impact Award is for a project that integrates PV, Storage, Energy management & any other associated technology to achieve the best environmental outcomes for climate action whilst also considering impacts on biodiversity.

Winner: Sunergy Solar for Woolworths - Waimak Junction

Sunergy Solar contributed toward the greenstar rating of a new Woolworths Supermarket through their commitment to carbon and waste reduction

What the judges liked:

• “Sunergy’s Toitū EnviroMark certification is leading the industry and separating them from their competition”
• “Outstanding commitment to diverting waste from landfill”

.  

Find out more about Sunergy Solar

.  

This category recognises business excellence within the renewable energy market segment. It celebrates businesses that have developed and grown whilst making a positive contribution to society, the industry and all stakeholders – customers, employees, and shareholders.

Winner: Eco Shine Solar

The first in New Zealand to adopt a specialised solar panel cleaning robot, Eco Shine Solar are on a mission to be the leading solar maintenance provider in New Zealand, helping kiwis get the most out of their solar investment.

What the judges liked:

• “Any service that can enhance energy production and extend solar systems lifespans is a winner” 
• “Eco Shine have entered the market ahead of the curve, building their capability in anticipation of a big growth trajectory”
• “This service provides benefit from residential to utility scale making a great addition to the industry” 
• Their comprehensive business plan is the hallmark of a business with a strong future”
  
  

.  

Find out more about Eco Shine Solar

.  

This category recognises business excellence within the renewable energy market segment. It celebrates businesses that have developed and grown whilst making a positive contribution to society, the industry and all stakeholders – customers, employees, and shareholders.

Winner: Tū Mai Rā Energy

Tū Mai Rā Energy aim to transform communities by assisting them to:

• reduce energy costs
• provide a resilient power supply
• enhance energy independence by enabling communities to generate their own power, and
• provide learning opportunities for communities about energy efficiency, use and costs.

What the judges liked:

• “Tū Mai Rā’s investment in their staff - knowledge, culture, training - is a step above the rest”
• “Their focus on alleviating energy hardship is admirable”
• “Tū Mai Rā’s cultural values and commitment to communities shine through”
• “They have self-enforced high standards in ethical and sustainable procurement”

.  

Find out more about Tū Mai Rā Energy

Runner up: Hubands Energy

Hubands Energy has proudly served Northland for over 42 years, driven by a passionate commitment to sourcing the most sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for their customers. 

What the judges liked

• “Hubands carry expertise across a broad suite of products making them extremely knowledgable but also able to offer a wide range of solutions”
• “Their attention to supporting, rewarding, and developing staff is tops”
• “They understand the energy transition to electrification across a whole home offering - it’s not easy to be experts at everything”
• “The high quality of their service is evidenced in their reputation, referrals, and reviews”
• “Exclusively employing their own installers ensures consistency and quality”

.  

Find out more about Hubands Energy

.  

This category recognises business excellence within the renewable energy market segment. It celebrates businesses that have developed and grown whilst making a positive contribution to society, the industry and all stakeholders – customers, employees, and shareholders.

Winner: Sunergise

Sunergise is a 100% New Zealand-owned solar and energy storage integrator, delivering top-tier solar photovoltaic and battery systems for commercial, industrial, and government customers in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

• “Sunergise’s unique PPA offering sets them apart”
• “Their commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainable solutions makes Sunergise worthy of recognition.
• “Their engineering team have tackled some challenging installations and come up with elegant solutions”
• “They have an obvious imperative to invest in quality assets, producing systems that will last”

.  

Watch this video here

Find out more about Sunergise

.  

An off-grid renewable system must be completely independent of the national grid and incorporate onsite renewable generation & energy storage.

Winner: ESolar for Durville Island

This system was specifically tailored to a large 500m2 luxury home situated in an extreme wind zone on Durville Island. The system needed to be meticulously engineered to provide a reliable energy supply to the main residence, which includes a lap pool, heat pump heating, induction cooking, auxiliary buildings, and additional accommodation. 

What the judges liked:

• “This was a truely challenging engineering solution”
• “special attention was needed to ensure the system's resilience and efficiency in this challenging coastal environment”
• “The load management system will ensure efficiency and reduce reliance on backup fossil fuels"

.  

 Find out more about ESolar

.  

Runner up: Infinite Energy for The Neck, Rakiura - Stewart Island

Infinite Energy designed & built a resilient off-grid power supply to provide a reliable, year round power source designed to withstand the most harsh elements, in this incredibly remote & culturally significant site.

What the judges liked:

• “The logistics and planning on this project were extreme”
• “Great design to ensure resilience and redundancy in the system”
• “First system designed to withstand sealions?”

.  

Find out more about Infinite Energy

.  

The Best Community Energy Project must contribute to the social fabric of a community, enriching its people and inhabitants’ lives using renewable energy. It must have helped the local community & improved their way of life with measurable and meaningful outcomes.

Winner: The Lines Company with Te Nehenehenui 

The collaborative project between The Lines Company and Te Nehenehenui aimed to provide renewable solar energy that let marae share excess solar power with others in their community who were facing energy hardship. The initiative, co-designed with kaupapa Māori principles, provided solutions that are environmentally respectful and community-owned.

What the judges liked:

• “This project will deliver tangible benefits to the community in reduced energy costs, improved health and wellbeing, energy education and awareness”
• “Great to see an EDB involved in developing projects like this”
• “The values-led approach through kaitiakitanga, whanaungatanga, and kotahitanga provide an example of how to engage any community”

Find out more about The Lines Company

.  

Runner up: Tū Mai Rā Energy with Te Runanga o Ngāti Hine

Tū Mai Rā were engaged by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine to address energy hardship within their community. The project delivered four large installations of solar panels and batteries on four Marae ensuring the Marae can run off grid and creating a platform so excess power can be shared. Up to 200 whānau will benefit, encouraging warmer homes with lower costs.

What the judges liked:

• “Having a platform that allows marae to provide power bill credits to whānau in need is unique”
• “The use of local labour for parts of the installation, creating jobs and fostering a sense of ownership within the community make this worth of recognition”
• “The collaborative nature of the project centered on community engagement ensured the project was shaped by the community’s needs and values”

Find out more about Tū Mai Rā Energy

A grid-connected renewable system must be connected to the national grid and include onsite renewable generation and it may also include energy storage and load control in the system.

Winner: Sunergise for Mānawa Bay

Mānawa Bay is a 5 Green Star rated building, developing the first 100% electric food court and the largest rooftop solar system in New Zealand comprising 4,600 panels and 20 inverters. 

What the judges liked:

• “Evidenced use of high-quality equipment across the system”
• “This is a complicated installation on a complex roof layout - well done!”
• “An innovative engineering solution developed in tandem with the roofing manufacturer”

.  

Find out more about Sunergise

.  

Tied Runners up: Good Energy - Tairua Project and NuGreen Solutions for Nexans Cable NZ

NuGreen Solutions for Nexans Cable NZ

Nugreen solutions partnered with Nexans Cable to deliver a comprehensive 982.5kwp ground-mounted solar power solution at Nexan’s New Plymouth facility. This innovative

project encompassed a power purchase agreement alongside a bespoke export arrangement for surplus weekend energy through Ecotricity. 

What the judges liked:

• “Great to see a collaborative project between SEANZ members”
• “A large ground mount system behind the meter is rare”
• “This well designed and executed project highlights the potential for industrial onsite energy generation and consumption across Aotearoa

.  

Find out more about NuGreen Solutions

.  

Good Energy for Tairua Project

This property on a challenging hillside location has a large load that supports a house and a workshop that operates grinding and polishing equipment around the clock for the owners business. Good Energy provided a ground mount pv system incorporating 60 kWh of lithium storage providing the site with approximately 2 days of autonomy.

• “Very complex logistics in this cliff-side installation”
• “A great looking solution”
• “The complexity of the installation, the challenges of the site, and the high quality of the workmanship make this worthy of recognition"

.  

Find out more about Good Energy

.