Sonnen

Name

Sonnen

Legal name

sonnen GmbH

Website

https://sonnen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Home Energy Storage

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (335910)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential & Multi-Family BTM Storage (Home Batteries, Apartment Systems) (EUAFAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Behind-the-Meter Generation (EUACALAB), Home Energy & EV Charging (HEMS, Smart Meters, Batteries, Chargers) (HSAPAQAF), Residential / Behind-the-Meter Storage Installation & Integration (EUAEAEAC), Ancillary Services Aggregation & Bidding Optimization (DER/VPP participation) (EUAFALAJ)

Keywords

• Home energy storage
• Battery storage systems
• Virtual power plant
• Residential solar storage
• Smart energy management

Headquarters

HQ city

Wildpoldsried

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of home battery storage systems (sonnenBatterie), EV chargers (sonnenCharger), and commercial storage solutions (sonnenPro FlexStack). Primary revenue driver with upfront product purchases.
2. Electricity Tariff Subscriptions: Monthly subscription fees for electricity supply through tariffs like sonnenHome EnergyDynamic (dynamic pricing), sonnenHome EnergyFix (fixed pricing with 12-month guarantee), and sonnenFlat direkt. Includes optional modules for direct marketing and VPP participation.
3. Direct Marketing Management: Optional monthly service (€3.99 gross) where Sonnen markets excess solar electricity on the energy exchange on behalf of customers, providing 1 ct/kWh bonus above EEG feed-in tariff.
4. Virtual Power Plant Dividends: Quarterly profit sharing from VPP grid stabilization activities. Sonnen guarantees minimum €50 per year dividend for VPP participants.
5. sonnenFinance: Financing services for solar and battery installations, enabling installment purchases of hardware.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sonnen manufactures and sells lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4/LFP) home battery storage systems under the sonnenBatterie 10 product family, complemented by an integrated energy ecosystem including the sonnenCharger EV wallbox, sonnenProtect backup power, sonnenPro FlexStack commercial storage, and electricity tariffs (sonnenHome EnergyFix and sonnenHome EnergyDynamic). The company operates the sonnenVPP virtual power plant that networks installed home batteries across Europe to stabilize the electricity grid, paying participants quarterly dividends. Customers can also participate in direct marketing of excess solar power and access the sonnenCommunity for peer-to-peer energy sharing.

Product overview

Sonnen offers a modular home energy ecosystem centered on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery storage systems. The core offering includes the sonnenBatterie 10 family (available in hybrid, performance+, performance, and standard variants from 5 to 22+ kWh capacity), complemented by the sonnenCharger EV wallbox, sonnenProtect backup power, sonnenKNX Module for building automation, and sonnenPro FlexStack for commercial applications. The system integrates with NIBE heat pumps via Eigenverbrauch+. Energy services include sonnenHome EnergyFix (fixed tariff), sonnenHome EnergyDynamic (dynamic tariff), sonnenFlat direkt (flat rate), and sonnenVPP (virtual power plant participation). The sonnen App provides monitoring and control, while sonnenFinance offers financing options. All components are managed through the smart energy system platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• sonnenBatterie: The company's core home energy storage battery product line, available in various models including sonnenBatterie 10, sonnenBatterie 10 hybrid, sonnenBatterie 10 performance, and sonnenBatterie 10 performance+.
• sonnenCommunity
• sonnenVPP
• sonnenFlat / sonnenFlat direkt
• sonnenHome EnergyFix
• sonnenHome EnergyDynamic
• sonnenCharger
• sonnenProtect
• sonnenPro FlexStack
• sonnenFinance
• sonnenDrive
• sonnenDividende
• sonnen Direktvermarktung

Products and services

• sonnenBatterie 10 hybrid Hybrid home battery storage system with integrated inverter enabling solar energy storage and intelligent energy management for residential households. Designed for homeowners with photovoltaic installations who want to maximize self-consumption and integrate battery storage directly with solar generation.
• sonnenBatterie 10 performance+ High-performance residential battery storage system with enhanced power output for households with higher energy demands and larger photovoltaic installations.
• sonnenBatterie 10 performance Standard performance residential battery storage system for solar energy storage and self-consumption optimization. Designed for typical household energy needs.
• sonnenBatterie 10 Entry-level residential battery storage system enabling households to store solar energy and increase self-consumption to up to 80% of energy needs. The starting model in the sonnenBatterie 10 family.
• sonnenCharger Intelligent EV wallbox charging station that charges electric vehicles with self-produced solar energy from the home photovoltaic system. Operates automatically based on energy availability and user preferences, enabling electric vehicles to participate in virtual power plant grid services.
• sonnenProtect Backup power solution providing emergency and substitute power supply during grid outages. Available as standard or optional feature on current sonnenBatterie models, ensuring household electricity supply during blackouts.
• sonnenPro FlexStack Commercial and industrial battery storage solution for business applications. Part of the sonnenPro product line designed for larger-scale energy storage needs at commercial and industrial sites.
• sonnenHome EnergyFix Fixed electricity tariff with 12-month price guarantee offering predictable costs plus optional modules for direct marketing of excess solar electricity and sonnenVPP participation for additional income. Includes optional €3.99/month direct marketing service providing 1 ct/kWh bonus above EEG feed-in tariff.
• sonnenHome EnergyDynamic Dynamic electricity tariff with variable rates based on real-time market prices, allowing automated charging of sonnenBatterie during low-price periods. Enables customers to benefit from market price fluctuations.
• sonnenFlat direkt All-inclusive electricity flat rate for sonnenBatterie owners, providing unlimited electricity from the sonnenCommunity at predictable monthly costs. Enables customers to optimize their self-generated solar energy usage.
• sonnenVPP (Virtual Power Plant) Virtual power plant service that networks thousands of sonnenBatteries to stabilize the power grid. Participants receive quarterly dividends from VPP profits with a guaranteed minimum of €50 per year. One of Europe's largest residential virtual power plants.
• sonnenFinance Financing service for sonnen products including PV and battery installations, enabling customers to purchase hardware through installment plans rather than upfront payment.
• Sonnen Trade-In Program Battery storage exchange/trade-in program allowing households in Germany to trade in old photovoltaic storage systems installed by December 31, 2020 for new sonnenBatteries with credits up to €2,800, regardless of condition or manufacturer. Operates as a product-led growth initiative driving adoption of new Sonnen batteries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% of household energy consumption covered from own solar panels
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• SOLRITE EnergyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026SOLRITE Energy partnered with Sonnen to launch a 'battery-only' virtual power plant offer in the Texas ERCOT market, providing 60 kWh of Sonnen energy storage per home with 12¢/kWh all-in retail electricity rate from partner Abundance Energy for flat $20/month. Target: 'Solar Orphans' and non-solar households. 3,000 customers enrolled, projecting up to 10,000 by end 2026.
• Abundance EnergycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 February 2026Partner electricity provider for SOLRITE's Texas VPP offer, supplying 12¢ per kWh all-in retail electricity rate for Sonnen battery customers.
• TransnetBWflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 December 2025German transmission system operator (TSO) authorized Sonnen to expand its virtual power plant by prequalifying the company's home storage units networked to form the VPP.
• NIBEcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnership for NIBE heat pumps with Sonnen energy systems. Allows excess solar power to operate heat pumps, saving up to 15% on heating costs.
• Fleetpool GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFleetpool GmbH partnered with Sonnen for sonnenDrive EV subscription service. Fleetpool handles vehicle lease contracts directly with customers. Note: sonnenDrive discontinued after November 3, 2024.
• DACHSER SEminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLogistics partner for warehousing and shipping. Time window booking system at DACHSER SE Memmingen location for efficient supply chain operations.
• TenneTflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman transmission system operator collaborating with Sonnen to connect EVs in TenneT's grid area to the VPP for grid stabilization through coordinated charging times.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tesla Energy: Competes directly with Sonnen in residential battery storage via Powerwall and a similar integrated solar+storage ecosystem, targeting the same homeowner segment. Holds 25-30% share in Australia, establishing it as Sonnen's primary global competitor.
• BYD: Chinese battery and EV giant with a significant share of the Australian consumer battery market (15-20%) and growing presence in Europe. Competes on price and scale with home storage products using LFP chemistry — directly overlapping Sonnen's positioning.
• Enphase Energy: US-based solar microinverter and battery company selling the IQ Battery for residential storage. Competes in the same home energy storage category, particularly in North America, with a strong installer channel similar to Sonnen's Fachpartner approach.
• E3/DC: German residential battery storage competitor (Hager Group subsidiary) offering home storage systems with similar solar self-consumption and EV charging integrations. Direct head-to-head competitor in the German Fachpartner channel.
• Varta (Energy Storage): German battery manufacturer with a residential and commercial energy storage business. Competes directly with Sonnen in the DACH home storage market using similar LFP/NMC battery technology and installer distribution.
• SolarEdge Technologies: Solar inverter company offering residential battery storage (Energy Bank) integrated with its PV inverter ecosystem. Competes in the same home energy storage category with a comparable installer-led go-to-market model.
• LG Energy Solution (Home Battery): Major global battery manufacturer offering residential energy storage products (formerly LG Chem RESU line). Directly competes with Sonnen in residential home battery storage with strong brand recognition and global distribution.

Broad incumbents

• SMA Solar Technology: Established German inverter and energy management company with residential and commercial storage offerings. Broader incumbent in solar+storage than Sonnen, with longer-tenured installer relationships in the DACH market.

Emerging players

• FranklinWH: Residential home battery startup with a whole-home energy management system. Emerging competitor in the same residential energy storage category with a focus on integrated home backup and solar self-consumption.
• Stem Inc: AI-driven clean energy solutions company active in both virtual power plant aggregation and commercial/industrial storage. Overlaps with Sonnen's VPP and sonnenPro FlexStack business lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Sonnenbatterie
• Facebookfacebook.com/sonnenbatterie.de
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/sonnengmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/sonnen_de/?hl=de
• Xx.com/sonnencommunity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sonnen