sonnenCommunity – A clean and decentralised energy system

setting line Service       map search started in Germany     tags line A circular society

computer monitor Go To Website

 

picture on top: sonnen GmbH

 

The sonnenCommunity is the largest energy community of its kind, including all sonnen customers. It offers its members to jointly shape a clean and decentralised energy system where the household becomes the centre of it.

Everybody can choose between several options how much he or she wants to engage in that common goal. Either by just signing an energy contract and getting clean energy from the sonnenCommunity, or to take all options such as: produce, store and share energy with other members, become part of the virtual power plant and help to stabilise the grids in a new way. Together with the sonnenCommunity’s EV subscription model, sonnenDrive enables a household to completely switch to clean energy.

What is the mission of the project?

Clean and affordable energy for everyone.

 

Where and when did the project start?

Germany — 2015.

 

Where is the service offered today?

The sonnenCommunity is global. It depends on the regulatory framework of every country for what specific services can be offered. Most services are provided today in Germany, Italy, UK, Australia and the US.

 

To whom is this service aimed?

The sonnenCommunity aims to make the household the new centre of the energy system.

sonnen infographic3

infographic: sonnen GmbH

What do you consider to be the most innovative aspects of your offer?

The sonnenCommunity is innovating the energy sector in two dimensions, with both new technologies and business models. An example is the virtual power plant where sonnen connects thousands of comparatively small home storage systems. By doing so they can participate in stabilising the grid on a national and regional level, a task that has been reserved to larger scale industrial units so far. That is only possible since sonnen can digitally connect those single units to form a large entity. The household benefits from it via an energy contract with an annual profit sharing for this service. That provides regular additional income and makes the investment in a storage system more profitable.

 

What are the most important impacts of your service in terms of sustainability?

The sonnenCommunity shows how the energy world of the future can look like. It is highly attractive since it fascinates people and offers financial benefits. So it might make people switch to clean energy faster and in a more complete way.

With its technologies, the sonnenCommunity helps to solve challenges of the energy transition like storing solar energy to make it more stable, and to provide grid stability in a new and clean approach.

 

Which aspects are particularly interesting from a design perspective?

The sonnenCommunity combines clean energies like solar, storage or e-mobility with digital connection to form a complete solution so a household can become part of a new energy system.

 

Do you also offer your service digitally?

The customer has access to the sonnen portal via app or computer.

 

What are some interesting numbers about the project?

As a sonnenCommunity member you don’t need your conventional energy provider anymore – you are 100% independent.

 

What happens next? What are your goals?

The goal each day is to get more people to join a new energy system as part of the sonnenCommunity.

sonnen logo horizontal02

 

 

  • Service | Estonia
    Bepco

    Bepco

    Circular transport packaging systems.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Germany
    Bits & Bäume

    Bits & Bäume

    The Movement for Digitalisation and Sustainability.
  • Service | Russia
    Bushe

    Bushe

    The eco-conscious chain of bakeries and pastry shops.
  • Service | Poland
    Chełpliwe Pudeła

    Chełpliwe Pudeła

    Vegan food delivery in reusable containers and bags.
  • Service | Germany
    circular.fashion

    circular.fashion

    A digital platform to ensure circularity in every step.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Finland
    CitiCAP

    CitiCAP

    Personal carbon trading on mobility.
  • Product | Germany
    Coboc

    Coboc

    Making pedelecs lighter and more attractive.
  • Product | Germany
    Engel Sports

    Engel Sports

    Functional sportswear that is sustainable in the value chain and in its entire life cycle.
  • Concept | Germany
    Everwave

    Everwave

    Floating platform that filters plastic and plastic particles from the water.
  • Service | International
    Fairbnb.coop

    Fairbnb.coop

    Community powered tourism.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Finland
    Finnish Roadmap to a Circular Economy 2016-2025

    Finnish Roadmap to a Circular Economy 2016-2025

    Leading the cycle.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Poland
    Gdynia Cargo Bikes

    Gdynia Cargo Bikes

    Cargo bikes are changing cities.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Germany
    German Ecodesign Award

    German Ecodesign Award

    Germany’s highest state award for ecological design.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Estonia
    Green Tiger

    Green Tiger

    The tiger leap to green economy.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Sweden
    Gröna Listan

    Gröna Listan

    The Green List for public procurement.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Sweden
    Händelö Eco-Industrial Park

    Händelö Eco-Industrial Park

    World-leading industrial symbiosis between industry and city through bio-based and circular economy.
  • Service | Germany
    kaputt.de

    kaputt.de

    Platform for repair solutions of electrical devices.
  • Service | Sweden
    Karma

    Karma

    Saving the world should be effortless. Save food with a tap of a button.
  • Service | Finland
    Lindström

    Lindström

    Caring about maintenance - a sustainable rental service for textiles.
  • Service | Sweden
    MoveByBike

    MoveByBike

    100% bike logistics.
  • Service | Norway
    Nimber

    Nimber

    Going your way, anyway.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Germany
    Nochmall

    Nochmall

    Getting Berliners excited about waste avoidance, reuse and upcycling.
  • Service | Russia
    Paketa net

    Paketa net

    Reducing the end-user’s ecological footprint.
  • Service | Russia
    Pokupay pravilno

    Pokupay pravilno

    The best packaging is none.
  • Policy & Cooperation | International
    PROMPT

    PROMPT

    An independent testing programme to support the assessment of the longevity of consumer products.
  • Service | Switzerland
    Pumpipumpe

    Pumpipumpe

    Sharing of everyday objects in the often anonymous urban neighbourhoods.
  • Product | Germany
    Pyua

    Pyua

    Functional outwear that is made of 100 percent recycled materials and can be reused.
  • Concept | Germany
    Radbahn

    Radbahn

    Building the first roofed cycle path along the U1 underground line in Berlin.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Poland
    Recycling Machines Warsaw

    Recycling Machines Warsaw

    Devices for selective waste collection that motivate inhabitants to change their habits and behaviour.
  • Service | Sweden
    Retuna

    Retuna

    The world’s first recycling mall.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Sweden
    Smarta Kartan

    Smarta Kartan

    Mapping of initiatives that promotes access over ownership.
  • Service | Germany
    Solarkiosk

    Solarkiosk

    E-Hubs as a promise for the future.
  • Service | Germany
    sonnenCommunity

    sonnenCommunity

    Households as the new centre of a clean energy system.
  • Policy & Cooperation | International
    SUSTAINORDIC

    SUSTAINORDIC

    A platform and network that aims to promote sustainable consumption and production (SDG12) based on a Nordic perspective.
  • Service | the Netherlands
    Swapfiets

    Swapfiets

    Bicycle as a service.
  • Service | Poland
    Swapp!

    Swapp!

    Fast moving consumer goods in closed loop system based on refilling stations.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Russia
    The Regions Sustainable Development Award

    The Regions Sustainable Development Award

    Help businesses gain financial support in regions of Russia.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Finland
    Think sustainably

    Think sustainably

    Make sustainable choices in Helsinki.
  • Service | Denmark
    Too Good To Go

    Too Good To Go

    An app to buy leftover food.
  • Service | Poland
    UrCup

    UrCup

    Reusable cups, plates, cutlery and mugs for caterers and event organisers.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Austria
    Vienna Repair Voucher

    Vienna Repair Voucher

    The Vienna Repair Voucher motivates people to give their products a second life.
  • Service | Austria
    wastebox.biz

    wastebox.biz

    Optimised and simplified construction site disposal
  • Service | Finland
    Whim

    Whim

    Mobility as a service.
  • Policy & Cooperation | UK
    Zero Waste Scotland

    Zero Waste Scotland

    Use products and resources responsibly.