Who we are

About Us

Empowering Communities with Renewable Energy

At Front End Solar, we take a holistic approach to our work, empowering local communities through training in the operation, maintenance and delivery of renewable and hybrid energy systems. Our team has extensive expertise in delivering solar technologies, integrated with other renewables, to meet energy demands and displace traditional fuels.

Integrated Solutions

We specialise in integrating solar, wind, hydro, and battery technologies to offer cutting edge on-grid and off-grid solutions for residential, community, commercial, and industrial needs.

Community Empowerment & Ethical Standards

We empower local communities through comprehensive training while upholding ethical standards aligned with the United Nations Global Compact’s principles on human rights, labor, and the environment.

Dr Tony Bittar

Managing Director

Tony is a leading figure in New Zealand’s solar energy landscape, with a distinguished career that spans over 30 years. With a background in physics and solar energy research, Tony has been New Zealand’s leading solar energy research scientist, publishing more than 100 papers in top-tier scientific journals. His expertise in solar energy is unmatched in New Zealand.

As a company founder and consultant, Tony brings unparalleled experience to Front End Solar. He has played a key role in designing and delivering innovative solar projects from residential to industrial scales. His vision for renewable energy led to the founding of Front End Solar, with a mission to provide sustainable energy solutions in Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands.

Tony is currently focused on consulting for utility-scale projects in the Pacific Islands, helping communities transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in their fight against climate change. His leadership and expertise continue to drive the company’s mission of making a lasting contribution to the renewable energy transition.

Ian Shearer

Director

Ian is a highly experienced energy engineer with extensive expertise in the design, construction, and commissioning of renewable energy systems. His leadership roles in the industry underscore his deep knowledge and commitment to advancing renewable technologies in New Zealand and overseas. Ian is a fellow of IPENZ and a founding member of the NZ Energy Management Association and Photovoltaic Associations (Now SEANZ).

With a diverse consulting background in energy, Ian has made significant contributions to the field. He has served as technical advisor for ICLEI: Local Governments for Sustainability (NZ) in Oceania and Europe, reflecting his broad impact on sustainability initiatives for local governments.

A dedicated advocate for sustainability and community engagement, Ian provides support, leadership, and training in technical engineering and development. His passion lies in deploying innovative renewable energy technologies to enhance energy independence, resilience, and drive positive change for communities and individuals facing energy poverty.

Olivier Bittar

Project Manager

Olivier has spent most of his career overseas working in various sectors from marine and environmental monitoring, to commercial diving and construction on large-scale infrastructure projects in the oil and gas industry. His extensive experience has taken him to over 72 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia. In each of these regions, he has successfully navigated the complexities of challenging projects, demonstrating a consistent ability to find positive solutions when projects inevitably hit difficult hurdles.

In addition to his vast construction experience, Olivier completed a Master’s degree in Business Management from the Technical University of Munich. His studies focused on renewable energy markets and entrepreneurship and he began his career in renewables with a utility-scale EPC company in Germany where he gained valuable experience working on multi-megawatt projects.

Olivier has transitioned his career away from fossil fuels to renewable energy and has returned home to help Front End Solar deliver distributed solar energy projects in New Zealand.

What our clients say about us

“Thanks for installing a great system that works well and as per initial indications. Also the added suggestion of future battery bank and easy to add-on solar panels and inverter in future if needed.

-Very prompt and straight forward sales process.
-Professional installation within the allocated time.
-There to sort out any problem solving or requests post installation.
-Very competitive pricing and the amount of panels I got supplied with the package.

5/5 highly recommended.”

Eric Bosch, off grid system. Carterton.

“We’d like to thank Front End Solar for the way they implemented our new solar electricity system. They were one of two organisations we shortlisted, based on personal recommendations.

The overall implementation has been an extended process as it had to tie in with our building works, which took time to plan and arrange.

The actual installation took place smoothly, with minimal disruption to other on-site activities. We needed them to do the installation in several stages to fit around other works and were pleased they accommodated it.

The system is now performing as expected. We look forward to the ongoing support as we adjust to being all-electric and seek to optimise the value from the solar system and our new heat pumps for space and water heating.

We’re happy to recommend Front End Solar to others interested in installing a solar system and to be a reference for other potential clients.”

Jerry and Ann Ball, Ngaio

“My wife and I were really happy with our solar installation from Front End Solar. The main reason we went with them was that we have known Tony and Ian from their many years doing pioneering work in the New Zealand energy sector.

We got quotes from most of the other solar providers and definitely preferred the lower
pressure approach from Front End Solar (and the price was the same). They were very patient with our dithering back and forth between different alternatives and when we finally decided, got the job completed without any hassles.

After installation, there was an issue with the programming of our inverter, causing it to export our storage to the grid when we didn’t want it to. Ian was diligent in figuring out the problem so it was resolved to our satisfaction.

I’m sure we made the right choice in going with Front End Solar and would highly recommend them to any others looking to install a solar system.”

Rob Bishop (former Chairman, NZ Energy Management Association).

“We tendered out seeking a solution to what was a very challenging project. The only solar company that was able to do the design work and demonstrate they could meet our requests on install was Front End Solar.

They solved the challenge and Olivier and his installation team left us with a fantastic rooftop system that looks great against our recently replaced rooftop.

They kept us updated removing a lot of stress for us. A very fussy tidy install to the tiniest detail. As in any project, tweaks are always required along the way but as this was a bespoke solution it really demonstrated Front End Solar’s commitment on the journey with us.

They are always available providing any further free advice and education we require. They still to this day monitor our system. We do not feel alone after the sale which is a rarity these days.”

Willem and Lisa, Newlands.

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