sonnen
ActiveOverview
sonnen GmbH produces home energy storage systems for private households and small businesses, primarily designed for use with photovoltaic systems. It is recognized as the market leader in Germany and operates in over 11 international markets, focusing on renewable energy storage, management, and community power trading.124
History
Founded in 2010 by Christoph Ostermann and Torsten Stiefenhofer as PROSOL Invest Deutschland GmbH, initially developing the sonnenBatterie home battery from 2008-2010 for solar energy storage.13 Renamed to sonnenBatterie GmbH in 2013 and to sonnen GmbH in 2015 to support internationalization and organize activities under one brand.1 In 2015, announced the sonnen power community for peer-to-peer energy trading among members, with flat-rate electricity offered to sonnenBatterie owners since 2016.1 Acquired by Shell, becoming a subsidiary while continuing global expansion.5
Product Lines
| Product Line | Positioning | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| sonnenBatterie (home energy storage) | Modular battery systems for solar self-consumption | $10,000 - $30,000 |
| sonnenCore (energy management) | Integrated software for battery optimization | Included with systems |
| sonnenVPP (virtual power plant) | Grid support programs for battery owners | N/A (service) |
Manufacturing
Products are manufactured in Germany at the company's facilities in Wildpoldsried, with in-house development of multiple generations of battery systems.14
Notable Products
- sonnenBatterie - Scalable home battery storage system optimized for photovoltaic integration, with eight generations developed by 2016.
- sonnenCommunity - Power trading network allowing sonnenBatterie owners to share renewable energy peer-to-peer.
- sonnenFlat - Flat-rate electricity contract for community members using stored solar power.
Reputation
Perceived as a pioneer and market leader in German home energy storage by professionals, praised for innovation in solar batteries and community energy models.13 Enthusiasts value its reliability and focus on energy independence from fossil fuels.4 Some note dependency on parent company Shell raises questions about commitment to renewables among critics.5