SOLRITE Energy and sonnen launch battery-only virtual power plant in Texas

Deal Analysis

SOLRITE Energy's partnership with sonnen and Abundance Energy to launch a 144 MW battery-only virtual power plant (VPP) in Texas' ERCOT market represents a significant development in the distributed energy resources landscape. By deploying sonnen energy storage systems at customer homes and selling electricity directly through Abundance Energy, SOLRITE aims to aggregate residential batteries into a grid-scale resource, offering potential benefits for grid stability and homeowner energy costs. This initiative leverages the growing trend of residential energy storage and the increasing sophistication of VPP technologies to participate in the ERCOT market. The deal is notable for its focus on a battery-only VPP, differentiating it from VPPs that incorporate other distributed generation sources like solar. The involvement of sonnen, a recognized energy storage system supplier, and Abundance Energy, a retail partner, adds credibility and expertise to the project. The 144 MW capacity suggests a substantial deployment of residential batteries, potentially impacting ERCOT's grid operations and demonstrating the viability of aggregated residential storage as a grid resource. The success of this VPP could pave the way for similar projects in other deregulated energy markets.

144 MW battery-only VPP in Texas ERCOT market
Partnership between SOLRITE Energy, sonnen, and Abundance Energy
Focus on residential energy storage aggregation
Potential impact on grid stability and homeowner energy costs

Market Context: The ERCOT market in Texas is a deregulated electricity market experiencing rapid growth in renewable energy and increasing grid instability. Battery storage and VPPs are gaining traction as solutions to enhance grid reliability and integrate intermittent renewable resources.

Source Intelligence

KEY DETAILS

The company is targeting a total of 10,000 customers by the end of 2026. "Blake Richetta, chairman and CEO of sonnen Inc. USA told pv magazine USA the company is targeting a total of 10,000 customers by the end of 2026." The program will represent a total energy storage capacity of 600 MWh. "With that number of customers, Richetta says the program will represent a total energy storage capacity of 600 MWh" The battery-backed energy plans offer 12 cents per kWh “all-in” energy costs for a $20 monthly fee. "The company’s battery-backed energy plans offer 12 cents per kWh “all-in” energy costs for a $20 monthly fee to homeowners with or without solar panels in all deregulated Texas markets." The offer features 60 kWh of sonnen battery capacity per home. "The offer features 60 kWh of sonnen battery capacity per home and a retail energy rate of 12 cents per kWh through retail partner Abundance Energy."

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Capacity

a power output of 144 MW (give or take, as some projects have been designed with smaller 20- and 40-kWh battery systems)

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Location

in all deregulated Texas markets

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Announcement

February 24, 2026

PARTIES MENTIONED IN SOURCE

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SOLRITE Energy developer

"SOLRITE Energy has launched a new battery-only virtual power plant (VPP) offer for the Texas ERCOT market under which it will deploy sonnen energy storage systems at customer homes and sell electricity directly to the homeowners."

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sonnen developer

"SOLRITE Energy has launched a new battery-only virtual power plant (VPP) offer for the Texas ERCOT market under which it will deploy sonnen energy storage systems at customer homes and sell electricity directly to the homeowners."

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Abundance Energy retail partner

"a retail energy rate of 12 cents per kWh through retail partner Abundance Energy."

high quality Enriched Feb 24, 2026