We love solar. And we want you to love it too.
Solar should be one of those decisions you never regret. The kind where, years later, you look at your power bill (or your app, or your battery quietly humming away) and think: that was a smart move.
That’s what we’re here for.
Southern Solar exists because we believe everyone deserves a solar system that’s been thought through. We’re electricians by trade. Problem-solvers by nature. And, committed to making sure every solar system we design and install performs the way it should.
Southern Solar started when the owners of two well-established Wānaka electrical companies realised they shared the same ambition to deliver the highest standard in solar solutions for Central Otago.
Rob from EME Electrical and Neil from My Local Electrician both have decades of experience between them, so they combined their expertise under one specialist banner to do solar the way it should be done. To stay ahead of a rapidly evolving industry—tracking new technology, testing emerging products, and translating it all into optimised systems designed for each site and each customer. As locals, they also understand the region—its conditions, its homes, and the expectations of the people who live here.
Get either of them talking about inverters, sunshine hours, or monitoring dashboards and you’ll need to cancel your afternoon. Southern Solar is a company that genuinely, unashamedly loves what solar can do—and wants to share that with everyone who’s ready to listen.
Southern Solar Wānaka Solar Services: Residential Solar | Commercial Solar | Leading Solar Products
Southern Solar is a SEANZ approved installer. We hold the appropriate licensing and endorsements for grid-connected solar and battery work, including the additional requirements associated with mains parallel generation systems. The Electrical Workers Registration Board describes this endorsement as requiring specific experience and demonstrated knowledge of
design, protection, wiring systems, and inverter-based energy systems connected to a network.
We’re picky. In the best possible way.
We don’t install every new product that lands on the market Instead, we:
We make every decision with your future in mind—having a solar system still love in ten, fifteen, twenty years’ time.
Rob brings a sharp, technical mind and a genuine love of problem-solving to everything Southern Solar does.
Rob has lived in the Southern Lakes for 35 years, he is a registered New Zealand Electrical Inspector and ran his previous business, EME Electrical for over a decade, working across residential and commercial projects throughout Otago and Southland. His early career included trade qualifications as both a diesel and petrol mechanic through the NZ Army.
Rob has also spent time away from the tools to deepen his industry knowledge, working with JA Russell Ltd in Business Development for Renewable Energy. There, he supported installers with technical guidance and solar system design across residential, commercial, and project work.
But he couldn’t stay away from the hands-on side for long. Today, Rob leads system design, installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting at Southern Solar, always with a focus on making sure every system performs exactly as it should.
With over ten years’ experience in New Zealand’s solar industry, Neil combines deep technical expertise, meticulous workmanship, and the skill to complete every project to the highest standard.
Originally from the UK, Neil moved to NZ in 2012 and has been working in the solar industry here since 2013. He has worked in electrical and mechanical engineering, specialising in the design and fabrication of large industrial recycling machinery for the steel and copper sectors.
Neil is a NZ-qualified electrician, giving him a strong foundation in both electrical and mechanical systems and hands-on technical problem-solving. He has worked across electrical installation, heating systems, heat pumps, and advanced control systems, including PLC, Wi-Fi, and network-based technologies.
In recent years, Neil’s focus has been firmly on solar and the fast-moving technology shaping the industry. He works to deliver solid, reliable systems and honest advice to ensure every customer gets a solution that fits their requirements.
Complete the form, send an email to office@southernsolar.co.nz or phone 021 70 30 62 to start your solar assessment
