Your Local, Award-Winning, One-Stop Solar Shop
Freenergy Solar Solutions is a Hawke’s Bay local. We provide an independent specialist service in all things solar from site visit to sign-off.
Our customers - Hawke’s Bay home and business owners - benefit from our experience and commitment to providing high quality and cost effective solar energy solutions.
Our values are simple and we stand by them:
We listen to our customers and offer them the best system design to meet their needs.
We treat our customers and their homes with respect.
We supply high-quality products and our installations are always professionally completed to a high standard.
We pride ourselves on communicating with customers clearly and promptly, keeping you in the loop and answering any questions you may have.
The Freenergy Story
Freenergy is owned by Aaron Duncan. In 2007, returning to NZ after an extended OE, Aaron realised he was ready for a change. Disillusioned with the corporate world focus on profit above people and the environment.
Exploring alternatives, Aaron saw the solar industry, still in its infancy, was forward-looking and exciting. Aaron quit the oil and gas industry after 10 years as a ROV pilot technician (remotely operated vehicle). Aaron upskilled more from his trade background and skills in mechanical engineering, electronics, hydraulics and system design and Freenergy was the result.
Over the past decade, Freenergy has worked with all manner of Hawke’s Bay solar applications. Solar is our sole focus, we’re not doing it on the side. We have proven technical skills and can handle the most complex jobs but simple ones get our full attention too. Let us prove it, get in touch for a complimentary quote.
An Award-Winning Team
The quality of our work and service is recognised by our industry peers. In 2016 we won Best Small Business in the PV (Photovoltaic) and Battery Market at the Sustainable Energy Association Industry Awards, for our quality implementations, strong processes and high customer satisfaction.
Aaron has also been named the Industry Person of the Year twice at the awards; in 2016 and 2023.
Meet the Team
Aaron
Founder and General Manager
Oversees the day to day running of the business. Aaron is always assessing new products and performing quality control. He is also on the ground talking to clients to assess their needs, optimising solutions and quoting jobs.
Sarah
Finance Manager
Sarah is our dedicated Finance and Administration Manager ensuring the smooth operation of our office & everything finance related. With a keen eye for detail, she makes sure everything behind the scenes runs seamlessly.
Nicci
Office Administrator
Nicci is your first point of contact when you start your solar journey. She plays a crucial role in facilitating effective communication and compliance from start to finish, and making sure the team remains consistently occupied.
Lauretta
Solar Support Engineer
Lauretta is responsible for designing solar roof plans, addressing post-installation technical queries, and overseeing warehouse operations.
She ensures a stock is well-maintained and packs orders for seamless installations.
Pete
Sales Technician
Pete actively engages with clients over the phone and on-site, evaluating their requirements, fine-tuning solutions for optimal outcomes, and providing accurate job quotes.
Jono
Installation Technician
Jono plays a crucial role in our installation team. With a keen eye for detail and dedication to excellence. He helps to ensure the smooth setup of solar systems and his commitment extends beyond efficiency – he's also passionate about maintaining a safe and positive work environment.
Ben
Lead Electrician
Ben is our lead Electrician responsible for overseeing technical aspects of jobs, ensuring that all electrical work meets code requirements. His role involves meticulous attention to detail to guarantee the completion of jobs in accordance with established standards.
Josh
Apprentice Electrician & Installation Technician
Josh is in the process of mastering the trade under the guidance of Ben, our lead Electrician. His responsibilities include installing panels, running wires, and acquiring the necessary skills to handle the technical aspects required for solar installation.
Sustainability is our passion
Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. We are in the solar industry because we 100 percent believe action must be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if we have any hope of meeting the Paris Climate Agreement goal of limiting global climate change to less than 2ºC above pre-industrial levels.
If we don’t meet this goal, life on our planet will dramatically change. We are already seeing an unprecedented level of extreme weather events, rising sea levels affecting our Pacific neighbours, species extinction, and biodiversity loss.
New Zealand’s net emissions have been steadily increasing since 1990. In 2014, we emitted 54 percent more greenhouse gas than we did in 1990. While we generate 80 percent of our electricity from renewable sources, we think New Zealand should be powered 100 percent by renewable energy.
Solar power systems offer an alternative and clean form of power with no harmful carbon emissions. The energy source of solar power is the sun, which is 100 percent renewable. Solar panels have minimal impact on wildlife, whereas hydroelectricity and damming, can have serious impacts on the biodiversity of the chosen area.
As a business and as individuals we are committed to reducing our own carbon footprint as much as possible. We generate our own power, recycle what we can, measure our fuel usage, support our local community, and generally try to do our bit to be as sustainable as we can. Our next step will be to verify and offset our emissions… so watch this space.
