Esolar Named Best Medium Business at the 2026 SEANZ Industry Awards
We're proud to share that Esolar has been named Best Medium Business at the 2026 SEANZ Aotearoa Industry Awards, sponsored by Entelar Energy.
It's the second time we've taken out this award, after first winning it in 2023. The Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ) awards recognise businesses that have grown well while making a positive contribution to their customers, their people, the industry and the wider community.
Lance and I flew up to Auckland for the awards night, then caught an early flight home the next morning to be at the Appleby Fair, which we were proud to sponsor this year. It was a big 24 hours, and a lovely way to celebrate with our local community.
What the judges recognised
The judges pointed to the things we care about most. They highlighted:
16 years of industry experience in solar, off-grid and battery storage
Strong supplier relationships, including being named Fronius Partner of the Year and REC Partner of the Year
An honest sales approach, which is at the heart of how we work. We'd always rather educate than push a sale
Ongoing training with top-tier suppliers such as REC
Community resilience projects delivered with EECA support, including work for Nelson Tasman Hospice and local council buildings
To be recognised for honesty and quality, not just growth, means a great deal to us.
From two founders to a team of 11
Lance founded the business in 2009 with his business partner, Frank Witowski, when solar was still in its infancy in New Zealand. In those early days the work took them all over the country, often away from home for a week at a time, and sometimes with Lance's Dad lending a hand as an installer. In 2016, Lance bought Frank out and carried the business forward.
He heard every comment going: that solar was a waste of money, or that it simply didn't work. It took a lot of hard graft from the original team to prove otherwise.
Today we're a family-run team of 11, based in Appleby, Nelson. Our installation calendar is booked out until February. The technology has become far more efficient and affordable, and more households, farms and businesses across the top of the south are turning to solar and batteries as power prices keep climbing.
This award now makes six SEANZ awards for Esolar since 2017. That includes Best Small Business, Best Medium Business twice, and Best Off-Grid System twice.
Growing our people and our community
Training the next generation. Four of our team have completed their electrical apprenticeships with us, and all four are now specialising in renewable energy. Investing in skilled, qualified people is how we make sure every system we install is safe, compliant and built to last.
Building community resilience. We recently completed solar and battery installations on community buildings for both Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council, supported by EECA's Community Renewable Energy Fund. Sites stretch from central Nelson to Motueka, Brightwater, Riwaka and beyond.
These buildings serve as community hubs in an emergency. Giving them their own power supply means they can keep the lights on and support locals when the grid goes down. It's work we're especially proud of.
Thank you
This award belongs to our whole team. Thank you for the care and pride you bring to every job, from the first site visit to the final commissioning.
Thank you to SEANZ and Entelar Energy for the recognition, and congratulations to runner-up Sunergy Solar, Northstar Technical Services (Highly Commended) and every other winner and nominee.
A big thank you to our supplier partners, including Fronius, REC, Taspac, Selectronic and BYD, for backing us with great products and support. Thank you to Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council and EECA for trusting us with such important community projects.
And most of all, thank you to our clients across Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and the West Coast. You're the reason we do this.
