German energy tech firm sonnen has officially entered the Canadian market with the launch of a new virtual power plant (VPP) in Edmonton, Alberta. The initial phase includes around 100 residential sonnenBatteries installed in homes within the Blatchford Lands district, a community designed for climate-neutral living.

The VPP will provide a total output of approximately 0.5MW/2MWh, with plans to expand to 3,000 sonnenBatteries and 18MW/60MWh within three years. The batteries will be networked to provide load management and grid services, while also supplying backup power in case of outages.

Partners in the project include Landmark Homes, EPCOR, Solartility, and the University of Alberta.

Oliver Koch, CEO of sonnen, said the launch marks a key milestone in the global rollout of the company’s VPP technology. “The unbeatable cost advantages of solar power can only be unleashed if it is intelligently controlled and stored,” he stated.

Households participating in the VPP will have access to dynamic electricity tariffs, with potential revenue opportunities from grid stabilization services such as peak load reduction and demand response.

Canada is now the second market in the Americas for sonnen’s VPP technology. The company already operates VPPs in several U.S. states, including Utah, Texas, California, and Puerto Rico.

Source: smart-energy.com