Chapter One — Our Beginnings

Our Story

I Want Energy started with a simple idea: Tasmanians deserve an easier, more affordable way to power their homes and businesses, and it should come from a company that actually lives here.

The Early 2000s

Founder Rob Manson spent years in electrical wholesaling and contracting before he saw where the industry was heading. As renewable energy technology matured and cost began to fall, Rob backed himself and started I Want Energy, with a simple focus: the highest-quality design and installation of renewable energy systems, at a price that made sense for Tasmanian households and businesses.

2008

I Want Energy joined the Clean Energy Council — the national body for renewable energy accreditation in Australia — cementing a commitment to quality and best practice that still shapes how every job is designed and installed today.

Growing With The Industry

From there, the business grew alongside the industry it helped build. Rob went on to become President of the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance, advocating for renewable energy across the state, and I Want Energy took on projects most installers wouldn’t touch — building sustainable power for Tasmania’s off-grid island communities and delivering renewable energy projects for government departments.

Today

I Want Energy is a 100% Tasmanian-owned and run business. We’ve grown from a one-person operation into a full team of designers, installers and support staff, but the reason people choose us hasn’t changed. We’re local, we stand behind our work, and we’re genuinely invested in Tasmania’s energy future, because it’s our future too.

9,000+

Installations completed

4.8★

Average customer rating

100%

Tasmanian owned & run

Why Tasmanians Choose I Want Energy

Reliable and Sustainable

Our purpose is simple: make clean, reliable and affordable energy accessible to every Tasmanian home and business and back it up with service that earns trust for the long run.

Affordable Energy

A Tasmania powered increasingly by its own clean, renewable energy, where solar, battery storage and electric vehicles work together to lower bills, reduce emissions, and make our state more energy independent, island by island, suburb by suburb.

Genuine Customer Care

A satisfied customer is our highest priority, not a KPI. That means honest advice about what system actually suits your home or business (not the most expensive one), clear communication from quote to install, and a team that picks up the phone when you call after the sale, not just before it.

Chapter Two — What’s Next

Our Future

Tasmania is in a strong position: abundant renewable energy, a supportive police environment, and homeowners and business owners who are increasingly ready to generate and store their own power. Our job is to keep making that transition simple.

Where we’re headed

Smarter, integrated systems

Solar, battery and EV charging designed to work together from day one, not bolted-on separately over time.

Next generation technology

Staying ahead of the curve with products like Tesla Powerwall 3 and AIKO’s latest panel technology, so our customers always have access to what’s genuinely best, not just what’s popular.

Growing our local team

More Tasmanian jobs, more accredited local installers, and faster turnaround for customers across the state.

A more resilient grid

Helping households and businesses store and manage their own energy, easing pressure on the Tasmanian grid during peak demand.

Continued investment in community

Ongoing support for renewable energy programs and grants that help Tasmania’s clean energy transition reach further than any one household.

A Message from Rob and Alex

Rob Manson, Managing Director

I started I Want Energy because I could see where the energy industry in Tasmania was heading, and I wanted to be part of building it properly: good products, honest advice and installations that last. Years on, I’m proud of what our team has built - over 7,000 systems installed, a reputation we’ve earned house by house and business by business, and a role in bridging renewable power to some of Tasmania’s off-grid communities. What hasn’t changed is why we do it - we want every Tasmanian customer to feel like they got a fair deal from a company that will still be here in ten years’ time. That’s still the goal.

Alex Johnstone, General Manager

Having been part of I Want Energy for almost nine of its 18 years, I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. I joined when the business was much smaller, starting in sales before progressing through sales management and into my current role as General Manager. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of helping grow a locally owned renewable energy company that has now installed more than 9,000 systems across Tasmania.