Energy Alternatives

What Energy Alternatives does

Energy Alternatives is a New Zealand-based renewable energy installer and solutions provider, founded in 2006 and headquartered on Waiheke Island in Auckland. The company designs, supplies, and installs solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery energy storage, and heat pump water heating for residential, commercial, and community customers. Its core product stack centers on the FoxESS product line — specifically the All-In-One (AIO) hybrid floor-mounted system (combining inverter, modular battery storage up to 10.4kWh, EPS emergency backup, and remote monitoring) and the F Series string inverters — for which Energy Alternatives holds exclusive New Zealand distribution rights. The company complements FoxESS hardware with Aquarian stainless steel heat pump water heaters, which it positions as a low-cost thermal 'battery' compatible with solar PV, and commercial energy monitoring systems.

The business operates a sales-led, direct-to-customer model with free energy assessments as the primary demand-generation hook. Customers engage directly with SEANZ-accredited practitioners from consultation through installation; commercial projects are won via structured tenders and feasibility studies. Revenue is generated principally through one-time hardware sales plus installation services, with quote-based pricing (no public list prices), consumer financing facilitated through finance NOW, and solar-specific loan products from ANZ, Westpac, ASB, BNZ, and Kiwi Bank reducing customer acquisition friction. Energy Alternatives serves homeowners and families, commercial and business customers, community facilities (schools, marae), and green-certified residential developers, with a heavy geographic concentration on Waiheke Island and broader Auckland.

Strategically, the company has built a community-anchored distribution flywheel through the WE Share energy-sharing network — a partnership with Our Energy and Electric Island enabling participating Waiheke households to sell, gift, or trade locally generated solar power at 12 cents per unit. The firm is founder-led (CEO/Director Dana Darwin), bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional investors, and operates with 1–10 employees from a virtual office on Waiheke Island.

Name

Energy Alternatives

Legal name

Energy Alternatives NZ

Website

https://energyalternatives.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Energy Alternatives is a New Zealand solar energy installer and renewable energy solutions provider, headquartered on Waiheke Island in Auckland. It designs, supplies, and installs FoxESS solar PV and battery storage systems (for which it holds exclusive NZ distribution rights), Aquarian heat pump water heaters, and energy monitoring for residential, commercial, community, and green-home developer customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Installation Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAMABAA

Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Solar Energy (PV, CSP, Rooftop & Utility-Scale)

SECONDARYEUAMAJAA

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Distributed Energy Resources & Community Renewables (Community Solar, Microgrids)

SECONDARYEUAMAJAK

Resilience & Backup Power Solutions (Critical Facilities, Islanding)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Distributed Energy Resources & Community Renewables (Community Solar, Microgrids)

Keywords

• Solar energy systems
• Battery storage solutions
• Heat pump water heaters
• Commercial solar installation
• Energy monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Solar PV System Sales and Installation: The primary revenue stream — design, supply, and installation of solar photovoltaic systems for residential, commercial, and community customers. Systems range from simple grid-tied PV to complete hybrid solar-plus-battery solutions with full installation by SEANZ-accredited electricians. One-time revenue per project, with follow-on revenue from upgrades and expansions.
2. Battery Storage and Energy Storage Systems: Supply and installation of battery storage systems (FoxESS All-In-One, AC-Coupled), including expandable capacity modules and emergency/backup power systems. Complementary upsell to solar PV installations.
3. Heat Pump Water Heater Sales and Installation: Supply and installation of Aquarian heat pump water heater systems — a key complementary technology to solar PV, enabling >65% efficiency improvement over conventional hot water cylinders. Often bundled with solar installations in green home projects.
4. Energy Monitoring Services: Commercial energy monitoring systems that provide load profiling, usage breakdowns, and system alerting for businesses and commercial facilities. Enables data-driven decisions about solar viability and battery sizing.
5. Free Consultancy / Assessment Services: Free energy assessments provided to homeowners and businesses to identify energy efficiency opportunities and recommend suitable solar/battery solutions. Acts as a lead-generation and sales tool, converting assessments into system installations.
6. WE Share Community Energy Network Participation: As the hardware and support partner in the Waiheke EnergyShare (WE Share) community power-sharing network, Energy Alternatives generates revenue from system installations within the network, with ongoing support and monitoring services for participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Energy Alternatives designs, supplies, and installs solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery energy storage, and heat pump water heaters for residential, commercial, and community customers on Waiheke Island and broader Auckland. It holds exclusive New Zealand distribution rights for the FoxESS product line and is the hardware partner in the WE Share community energy-sharing network on Waiheke Island.

Product overview

Energy Alternatives offers a comprehensive portfolio of renewable energy products and solutions centered around solar power, battery storage, and energy efficiency technologies. The core product line includes the FoxESS All-In-One (AIO) system—a unified floor-mounted unit combining solar inverter, battery storage, and emergency power backup—and the Fox ESS F Series string inverters for residential applications. These are complemented by Aquarian heat pump water heaters that serve as a cost-effective thermal storage solution. The company provides end-to-end services including solar electricity system design and installation, energy storage solutions, commercial energy monitoring, and community power-sharing platforms (WE Share). Additional offerings span solar finance solutions, integrated central heating, and green home solutions targeting Homestar rating compliance for new housing developments. The product ecosystem is unified through remote monitoring capabilities and partnerships with tier-1 manufacturers and financial institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FoxESS All-In-One (AIO) Hybrid System Floor-mounted integrated solar inverter and battery storage system with EPS emergency backup, modular capacity up to 10.4kWh, and remote monitoring via web/app. Designed for residential customers seeking an all-in-one solar-plus-storage solution with backup power during grid outages.
• FoxESS F Series String Inverters Single-phase string inverters in 3kW and 5kW models, IP65 rated for outdoor installation, with up to 97.4% maximum efficiency and up to 50% over-paneling support. Used in residential solar PV installations.
• Aquarian Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWH) Stainless steel heat pump water heater systems delivering at least three times the efficiency of conventional electric cylinders (>65% efficiency improvement). Designed as a complementary solar 'battery' by heating water during peak solar generation; intended for residential households and green-home developments.
• Solar Power Systems (Residential and Commercial) End-to-end design, supply, and installation of solar PV systems ranging from simple grid-tied photovoltaics to complete whole-home and large commercial solar solutions (e.g., 75kWp systems). Includes solar thermal options (evacuated tubes, flat plates) for water heating. Backed by 25-year panel performance guarantees and 10-year manufacturing warranties using Tier 1 manufacturer components.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems Integrated solar battery systems providing backup during outages, reducing grid reliance, and maximizing solar self-consumption. Available in off-grid and grid-tied configurations with expandable capacity and remote monitoring.
• Commercial Energy Monitoring System Wireless (Wi-Fi) commercial energy monitoring system providing load profiling, appliance usage breakdowns, maintenance alerting, and remote access for businesses and commercial facilities. Supports data-driven decisions on solar viability and battery sizing.
• WE Share Community Power-Sharing Network Community energy-sharing platform enabling Waiheke Island households to sell excess solar power locally at 12 cents per unit, gift power to family/friends/community, and monitor generation, usage, and storage in real time via the 'My Generation' app.

Quantifiable outcome

• Waiheke High School reduces electricity costs by ~60% with 75kWp system, covering ~$3,000 of a ~$5,000/month bill
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Our EnergycoreTechnology or Integration · 23 June 2022Our Energy, a Wellington-based technology company, provides the online energy-sharing platform for the WE Share community power network on Waiheke Island. The platform enables households to monitor generation, usage, and storage in real-time via the 'My Generation' app, and manage options for excess power. Our Energy manages several similar community power-sharing networks across New Zealand.
• Ara Ake (formerly National New Energy Development Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2022Ara Ake is a government-funded organization supporting New Zealand's transition to low carbon-emissions future. As a WE Share partnership member, Ara Ake provides support and endorsement for the community-led energy-sharing initiative on Waiheke Island as an example of collaborative community energy innovation.
• Electric Island (Waiheke)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2022Electric Island is a community group on Waiheke Island working toward a carbon-zero Waiheke. The group partnered with Energy Alternatives and Our Energy to launch WE Share — a solar power energy-sharing scheme. Electric Island initiated and drives the community mission and vision for the network.
• FoxESS Co Ltd (Tsingshan Group)coreTechnology or Integration · 10 February 2021Energy Alternatives secured exclusive distribution rights to the New Zealand market for the comprehensive FoxESS product line — a Tier 1 manufacturer and part of the Tsingshan Group. FoxESS controls the complete supply chain from nickel-chromium alloy smelting to ESS assembly. The All-In-One (AIO) hybrid system is the flagship product of this partnership, combining solar, battery, EPS backup, and remote monitoring in one unit.
• Catalyst HomescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2020Catalyst Homes is a New Zealand home building company offering Homestar-rated energy-smart house designs. Energy Alternatives was selected as the preferred supplier of solar power and Aquarian heat pump water heating technology for Catalyst Homes' projects, including the Matakana Green development. The partnership delivers integrated, certified energy-efficient solutions for new home builds.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EnergyAltsNZ
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnergyAlternativesNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/energy-alternatives-nz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Energy Alternatives