State of Texas officially unveiled the new Virtual Power Agreement which will revolutionize residential solar energy across the state. The new virtual power purchase offered by SOLRITE Energy in collaboration with sonnen makes an incredibly attractive, highly affordable solution that is to the benefit and good of environmental and economic objectives.
Overview of the VPA program
Under the new VPA, residents of Texas in the ERCOT market can have solar panels with two 20kWh sonnen batteries with no upfront costs. The program is looking to connect at least 5,000 households by 2025, although more than 1,000 installations have already been completed. Participants in the program pay for solar electricity below the market average, with only 12 cents per kWh compared to the typical 19-20 cents per kWh in the state.
Cost Savings and Additional Benefits
The program allows participants to save money while offering other ancillary benefits. It provides free backup power to residences when the electricity is out because of the power provided by a sonnen battery. The program supports a cleaner future, reducing the need for generating energy from polluting power plants. Cumulatively, more than 40 megawatt-hours of residential battery power are committed to be available to the ERCOT market by 2024.
The Role of Virtual Power Plants
Central to the effort is the VPP, a virtual power plant where sonnen’s batteries combine their efforts to stabilize the Texas grid. By redirecting stored solar energy in concert to moments and areas of peak demand, the batteries act to strengthen the efficiency of the grid, reduce energy costs, and make it more resilient. Unlike traditional buyback programs for solar, the VPP better integrates solar onto the ERCOT grid reliably and strategically.
Transforming Texas’s Energy Landscape
The VPA has been a significant move in the direction of solving Texas’s energy problems. At an affordable price, this program marries solar energy with advanced battery storage to empower residents and support the greater vision of a sustainable and resilient energy system. This program is likely to raise the bar for similar initiatives around the country, showing how innovative technology and collaboration can drive the transition to cleaner energy as it scales.