Backup power

In 2019, the Kincade Fire ravaged Sonoma County, California and decimated almost 78,000 acres. While firefighters bravely battled the blaze, the local utility began a series of power shutoffs for public safety, which left nearly three million people in the dark. Two residents Joe Metro and Tony DeYoung told us about their experience outfitting their eco-friendly dream home with solar and energy storage and what it was like living through the Kincade Fire. 

— Acacia Newlon, sonnen Marketing Communications Manager

Given the reality that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, you may be thinking about getting some form of backup power for your home. Here are three key reasons why energy storage is a better choice than a generator for energy resiliency when your power inevitably goes out.  

— By Brian Wolfson, sonnen Channel Specialist

Coming from Boston, wildfires aren’t a threat I’m used to, or comfortable with. Many low-income Californians already struggle to make ends meet, and the threat of wildfires here in California is relentless and very real. It’s in my nature as an empath to feel and find a way to help because I believe we’re all in this together, and the impact sonnen is making (and will make) with virtual power plant technology is larger than what I imagined.

— By Kelsey Lord, sonnen Channel Manager - Energy Automation

A question I get asked a lot is, “How long will battery backup with an AC coupled solar system last? My customer has a limited budget.” There are so many variables to think about here — from the size of the battery to what the customer wants to back up in an outage. Luckily, a homeowner who purchased our smallest energy storage system, a 5kWh sonnen eco, was game to let me perform a real operational test and cut power to his unit to simulate a power outage. This test was a real eye-opener for this homeowner, and I promise the story has a happy ending!

— By Greg Smith, sonnen Technical Training Manager

Did you know 36 million Americans were affected by power outages in 2017? Read about the everyday consequences families face as a result of increasing power outages and how energy automation can help.

— By Kelsey Lord, sonnen Channel Manager - Energy Automation

Those of us who are privileged to be able to work from home throughout the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders are at the mercy of our utilities for reliable power. During last year’s wildfire season, planned public safety power outages plagued California for months, and this past week, Utah experienced a 5.9 magnitude earthquake and seasonal severe weather knocked out power to thousands. Considering that “non-essential” businesses like coffee houses, libraries, and shared workspaces have closed their doors, a residential power outage impedes our ability to work. So how do we protect against these threats to our abilities to earn an income from home?...

— By Jenise Granvold, sonnen Regional Sales Manager