EECA Innovation Award

Sponsored by EECA

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:

Aotea Energy for their Home Battery System

Aotea Energy developed an innovative 16kWh home battery system with built-in intelligence and custom energy trading software. By also becoming an electricity retailer, they can buy and sell power on the wholesale market, selling their excess power to the grid, helping customers cut power bills by around half, save more than $2,000 a year, and target a payback of under six years. The product has achieved active commercialisation, with Aotea Energy having already deployed well over 50 smart battery systems at the time of their submission.

Runner Up:

Supa Energy for Kaikohe Bowling Club

An integrated roof-replacement + 40kW solar + 30kW battery project for the Kaikohe Bowling Club, delivered as one package with financing and AI-driven battery dispatch.