SEANZ Best Small Business Award 2025 Winner
Proud to be recognised as Aotearoa’s Best Small Solar Business
Freenergy Solar Solutions has been named J. A. Russell Best Small Business at the SEANZ 2025 Aotearoa Industry Awards, a national recognition of innovation, quality, and resilience in the sustainable energy sector.
Held in Auckland as part of the annual SEANZ conference and gala dinner, the awards celebrate the people and projects lighting the way in New Zealand’s energy future.
The award recognises Freenergy’s contribution to building energy resilience across Hawke’s Bay, with over 1MW of solar installed in the last 12 months across schools, businesses, community facilities and homes.
(Pictured): Brad Morrison, Renewables Tech Team Lead, JA Russell Ltd (left) with Aaron Duncan, Freenergy Solar Solutions and Jeff Albert, National Renewable Energy Manager, JA Russell Ltd.
What this award means
This award is more than just a milestone for our team. It’s recognition of the people we work with every day. From supporting cyclone recovery to delivering smart energy solutions for the next generation, this win reflects the trust our community places in Freenergy.
For our clients, it means:
Confidence in proven, high-quality installations
Access to a skilled, certified team with deep local knowledge
A solar partner who’s here for the long haul, not just the install
It’s also a nod to the future - a growing need for resilience, energy independence, and smarter solutions in a changing energy landscape.
Watch the Freenergy Award Feature
Presented at the SEANZ Aotearoa Industry Awards Gala Dinner 2025, this short video captures the scale, impact, and innovation behind Freenergy’s winning entry.
Judge’s Comments:
“Over 1MW Solar + BESS installed over the last year is outstanding for a small business.”
“Freenergy has been instrumental in building resilience across Hawke’s Bay with solar and BESS.”
Over the past 12 months, we’ve helped Hawke’s Bay homes, businesses, and farms reduce their energy bills, build energy resilience, and move towards a smarter, cleaner future.
Notable installs include:
Rural solar systems powering remote homes and off-grid retreats
Battery-backed solutions supporting power resilience in isolated areas
Education and commercial installations for local growers, retailers, and service providers
Grid-tied and hybrid systems optimised for energy savings and smart monitoring
Flaxmere College – Modular Growth for Community Impact
50kW installed | 2 phases
Freenergy designed and delivered a staged install at Flaxmere College, allowing the system to expand over time as fundraising progressed. Aaron continues to return to speak with students about sustainability, the future of energy, and employment pathways in the solar industry.
Centralines Depot, Waipukurau – Powering Regional Infrastructure
105kW installed | 255 solar panels
Designed, supplied and installed by Freenergy, this system supports the new Centralines electrical depot. The team coordinated cranage with the local aerodrome due to flight path constraints, working closely with Gemco to deliver the system safely and efficiently.
Mission Estate Winery
63kW installed | 124 high-efficiency panels
Freenergy installed a 63kW system at Mission Estate while the site remained fully operational. The project included full design, supply and install, and work is now underway to expand the system with battery resilience for the office and admin block, helping the winery future-proof its operations.
"Aaron has been an active and valued contributor to Hawke's Bay's renewable energy movement. His technical expertise, practical solutions and willingness to share knowledge have directly advanced our shared vision of a region powered by clean, accessible and locally generated energy.
Most importantly Aaron is authentic, genuine and reliable. He prioritises community needs, offers in-depth insights, lays emphasis on safety and reliability and is recognised for his workmanship."
- Uttam Floray – Community Lead - Electrify Hawkes Bay / Sustainable Hawke’s Bay - Board / Senior Programme Lead - Toitū Envirocare
An Award-Winning Team
This isn’t our first SEANZ win - and it may not be our last.
These earlier honours recognised our high-quality implementation, strong processes, customer focus and satisfaction, and technical leadership. We’re proud to now add 2025 Best Small Business to that list.
Proudly local. Nationally recognised.
As an award-winning solar provider based in Hawke’s Bay, Freenergy Solar Solutions delivers certified solar and battery installations across Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, Havelock North, Waipukurau, and everywhere in between.
Recognised by SEANZ as New Zealand’s Best Small Business 2025, we’re proud to lead the way in smart, sustainable energy.
