SOLRITE Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Texas Battery-Only VPP: 60 kWh Storage + 12¢/kWh Power For $20/Month, With 3,000 Customers Already Joined And 10,000 Expected By 2026

SOLRITE Energy, a company focused on financing, building, and owning sonnen Virtual Power Plant Agreement (VPA) projects, has introduced a new “battery-only” virtual power plant (VPP) offering tailored for the Texas ERCOT market. The new program provides homeowners with 60 kWh of sonnen energy storage and a competitive all-inclusive retail electricity rate of 12 cents per kWh, all for just $20 per month. This marks the first offering of its kind in Texas, and more than 3,000 customers have already joined the SOLRITE sonnen VPA. With the addition of the battery-only option, SOLRITE and sonnen expect up to 10,000 customers to enroll by the end of 2026, supplying around 600 MWh of flexible, dispatchable energy to the Texas grid. The program is available only in deregulated utility areas, including Houston, Corpus Christi, and McAllen.

Blake Richetta, Chairman and CEO of sonnen Inc. USA, noted that the new product represents a major milestone for the country’s growing VPP market. He explained that for the first time, a VPP battery can stand on its own as a fully dispatchable grid-balancing asset, whether paired with rooftop solar or used independently. Because of the strong grid-services value that the battery provides, customers can access an affordable rate and substantial backup power for just $20 per month, while most of the system’s overall cost is recovered through the energy services it delivers to the Texas grid.

The offering also aims to support “solar orphans” — Texas homeowners with rooftop solar systems who no longer receive buy-back compensation for exporting their solar energy once their retail electricity plan ends. As solar buy-back programs become less common, many customers are left paying for their solar systems while earning little or nothing for the excess energy they generate. The new SOLRITE sonnen Battery VPA allows these customers to store their excess daytime solar production at no upfront cost and use it later in the evening, reducing their dependence on the grid and improving the value of their solar investment. With 60 kWh of storage capacity per home, users also gain strong backup power capabilities during severe weather or grid outages.

Regan George, CEO and Founder of SOLRITE Energy, said the new offering gives solar customers a way to finally capture meaningful value from their energy production. He added that customers without rooftop solar can also join the program for the same $20 monthly fee and benefit from significant backup power and the 12-cent retail rate.

The battery-only VPA also provides important grid benefits. Homes without rooftop solar can serve as a flexible load resource, absorbing excess generation during periods when wind and solar output is high but demand is low. In these situations, coordinated clusters of sonnen batteries can charge using surplus grid energy, helping to stabilize supply and reduce the need for peaking power plants. This type of reverse demand response creates a more efficient and flexible energy system and supports higher levels of utility-scale renewable energy.

This new offering represents a major advancement for Texas’s energy market. By combining advanced battery technology, innovative software, and a customer-friendly pricing structure, SOLRITE, sonnen, and retail electricity provider Abundance Energy are providing homeowners with a more resilient, sustainable, and economically attractive option—while delivering valuable grid-stabilizing services across the ERCOT system.