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Residential battery storage maker Sonnen is reporting two very different stories today: Its German business has filed for insolvency, while sonnen USA says sales have doubled and it is preparing to expand.
The insolvency filing comes just two months after Shell sold sonnen to investment group TIVEN. Germany Handelsblatt reported that sonnen GmbH confirmed the filing and informed approximately 400 employees in Wildpoldsried, Bavaria, on October 22.
For homeowners with Sonnen batteries, the immediate question is what happens with service. According HandelsblattThe company intends to continue supporting its more than 150,000 existing customers. But an important renovation is coming: numerous subsidiaries are expected to be liquidated or enter insolvency proceedings under self-administration, leaving only one production center. The report does not identify that site.
Meanwhile, sonnen USA’s announcement outlines a growing home battery business. The company says sales have doubled and production has tripled year over year, supported by expanded manufacturing in Stone Mountain, Georgia. It expects to deliver more than 180 megawatt-hours of residential battery storage in 2026.
Much of that growth comes from virtual power plants (VPPs). These connect home batteries so they can work together to support the grid, giving households another way to get value from their solar and storage systems.
In Texas, Sonnen says its SOLRITE offering serves more than 6,000 homes, combining rooftop solar, batteries, energy management and VPP participation. In Massachusetts, its sonnenCommunity program offers cash rewards to participating homeowners in National Grid and Eversource territories. The company also reports an increase in sales through its Wattsmart program in Utah.
TIVEN bought the entire global business, including sonnen USA. US CEO Blake Richetta stated today that “TIVEN is firmly committed to the long-term success of sonnen USA as a strong company and leader in the North American VPP energy market.”
TIVEN said it “looks forward to driving the company’s impressive growth.”
But the U.S. announcement leaves one important question unanswered: How will the German restructuring affect U.S. operations and their customers? It does not address the insolvency filing, and sonnen USA declined to comment on developments in Germany when contacted by pv magazine.
US growth figures show demand for sonnen batteries. What customers still need is a clear explanation of how manufacturing, software support and service will be maintained during the restructuring.
Read more: Thousands of Texas homes are about to form a huge virtual power plant
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