Antoine Riboulon, former Tesla energy executive, has joined Christchurch-based start-up Aotea Energy as chief operating officer, signaling a strategic move to expand the company’s operations in New Zealand’s South Island. Aotea Energy specializes in smart home battery systems and recently launched its home battery product in Auckland and Christchurch.
Riboulon brings extensive experience in energy products, having spent five years at Tesla in California and Texas. During his tenure, he rose to the position of global head of operations for Tesla Autobidder, the firm’s energy trading and control system for utility-scale batteries. After an 18-month career break that included time spent in New Zealand, Riboulon joined Aotea Energy to lead manufacturing growth at its Christchurch facility.
Founded in 2022 by Tama Toki and backed by investors including Sir Stephen Tindall and Vaughan Fergusson, Aotea Energy’s locally designed and assembled home battery system retails for between NZD 10,500 and 12,500. Unlike many comparable products, the battery does not require solar panels to operate. Users can control the system through a smartphone app that enables them to purchase electricity during low-cost periods and sell surplus power back to the grid during peak demand, enhancing energy resilience.
The company’s origins trace back to Toki’s experience growing up on Great Barrier Island, where limited grid access influenced his focus on energy self-sufficiency. With Riboulon overseeing production and scaling efforts at the Christchurch plant, Aotea Energy aims to leverage the city’s reputation as a center for innovation and industrial development to broaden its market footprint across New Zealand.
Riboulon emphasized his enthusiasm for the role, citing the opportunity to contribute to a significant transformation of New Zealand’s electricity grid. As the country seeks to integrate more renewable energy and improve grid flexibility, locally produced battery solutions like those offered by Aotea Energy may play an increasingly important role in energy management and sustainability.