Though the Lone Star State is known for its fast interconnection process and abundant sunshine, Texan solar also faces challenges that leave retail-based solar buyback programs as the primary option for homeowners. But a bold new solution to Texas’ solar paradox just came online.
Solrite Energy, a solar and storage financier, and sonnen, a virtual power plant (VPP) and battery storage company, announced today the launch of a virtual power plant power purchase agreement (VPA) in Texas.
Under the VPA, Solrite will install panels and Sonnen Core+20 batteries at eligible households with no upfront costs to customers. The batteries, which will provide up to 60 kWh of capacity, will link into a VPP managed by Sonnen. Enrolled homeowners will pay 12¢ per kWh, compared to the 19¢ to 20¢ per kWh rate common in Texas, for the energy their systems produce.
“This is the first solar offering that doesn’t work against the utility,” Regan George, the CEO of Solrite, told pv magazine USA, noting that unlike a traditional arrangement, the VPA doesn’t require retail electric providers to provide an economic subsidy to homeowners in order to make solar pencil out financially.