Virtual Power Plant

5 years of sonnenVPP

For half a decade, the sonnenVPP has been providing more stability to electricity grids and more financial rewards for customers.

Together we are shaping the energy system of the future.

The sonnenVPP is a network of thousands of sonnen batteries that works like a regular power plant - only more efficient and sustainable. Five years ago, it was the first large-scale virtual power plant made up of home storage systems to be authorised for the balancing energy market in Germany. Ever since, it has been balancing out fluctuations in supply and demand in the electricity grid. The revenues for this service go to the participants in the sonnenVPP. A milestone for a secure, clean and affordable energy supply.

Want to learn more about the sonnenVPP? Read our knowledge article here.

The sonnenVPP

Discover how the sonnenVPP works and how you can benefit from it.

The power of community

Three continents, one sonnenVPP

The sonnenVPP is growing steadily. It is already active in Australia, Germany, Sweden, the UK, Italy and the USA. With around 25,000 batteries available and a total capacity of 250 MWh in Germany alone, the sonnenVPP is one of the largest virtual electricity storage systems in the world.

The power of innovation

Entering a new energy era

With its VPP technology, sonnen is one of the pioneers of a modern energy system. The use of flexible storage resources to alleviate grid fluctuations is a basic prerequisite for integrating renewable energies into the electricity grid. By qualifying for the balancing energy market in 2018, sonnenVPP took a significant step towards the energy transition.

The power of change

The power plant of the future is a network

Virtual power plants are becoming increasingly important for security of supply. The larger the network, the better. This doesn't only apply to home storage systems, other large-scale consumers can also become part of the sonnenVPP in the future. In 2023, sonnen already successfully tested the networking of electric cars. Instead of burdening the grid, they will become an active and stabilising part of the energy system.

The most frequently asked questions about the sonnenVPP:

How do I become part of the sonnenVPP?: The participation requirements vary depending on your place of residence. Generally, a sonnenBatterie, a SmartMeter, and a suitable electricity contract are prerequisites for joining the sonnenVPP. For more information, click here.
What happens to my battery when I join the sonnenVPP?: Your battery is connected with thousands of others in the sonnenVPP to participate in the energy market. It helps balance fluctuations in the power grid by storing or releasing energy based on supply and demand. The electricity is directed exactly where it's needed, stabilizing the grid. Plus, your battery earns money for you during this process! You don't have to worry about doing anything, the sonnen team accesses your battery via the internet, using smart algorithms to operate it as efficiently as possible. It always takes into account your anticipated self-consumption and current weather data.
How do I benefit financially from participating in the sonnenVPP?: How exactly you can benefit financially from the sonnenVPP depends on the design of the national energy market. In some countries, due to regulatory and structural conditions, we can leverage the potential of our technology more effectively, providing even more advantages to our customers there. If you want to learn more about participation and the benefits in your region, click here.
Does the sonnenVPP have an impact on the performance and lifespan of my battery?: Our software distributes tasks as evenly as possible among the batteries in the sonnenVPP to limit the impact on individual batteries. The sonnenBatterie has been specifically designed for VPP participation, ensuring that additional charge and discharge cycles have no effect on performance and lifespan. Furthermore, we provide one of the longest warranties in the market for your sonnenBatterie: 10 years or 10,000 cycles. For comparison: If your battery is fully charged and discharged once daily for self-consumption over 10 years, that's only 3,650 cycles. So, over 6,000 cycles remain unused.

5 years of sonnenVPP

Together we are shaping the energy system of the future.

The sonnenVPP

Three continents, one sonnenVPP

Entering a new energy era

The power plant of the future is a network

The most frequently asked questions about the sonnenVPP:

How do I become part of the sonnenVPP?

What happens to my battery when I join the sonnenVPP?

How do I benefit financially from participating in the sonnenVPP?

Does the sonnenVPP have an impact on the performance and lifespan of my battery?