DTE Energy and sonnen Launch Michigan's First Residential Battery Virtual Power Plant Pilot to Explore New Ways to Lower Energy Costs
Key Highlights
- ➤DTE launches Michigan’s first residential battery VPP pilot at Veridian.
- ➤Two-year pilot virtually connects nearly 100 homes through sonnen battery systems.
- ➤DTE will evaluate VPPs for lower costs, peak-demand support and grid reliability.
- ➤Veridian community spans 14 acres and includes 170 fossil-fuel-free mixed-income homes.
Expert Statements
Joi Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer of DTE Energy
“Across Michigan, families are feeling the pressure of higher costs for groceries, housing, childcare and other everyday necessities, and we know affordability matters more than ever.”
Joi Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer of DTE Energy
“That’s why we’re exploring innovative ways to make better use of energy resources.”
Joi Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer of DTE Energy
“This pilot is an opportunity to test an approach that could ultimately provide a lower-cost way to meet growing energy needs and strengthen reliability.”
Joi Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer of DTE Energy
“It’s exactly the kind of forward-thinking approach that has the potential to help keep energy affordable for customers over the long term.”
Matt Grocoff, Founder of Thrive Collaborative
“Veridian was designed from the outset around a fundamentally different approach to energy.”
Matt Grocoff, Founder of Thrive Collaborative
“This pilot marks a historic moment for Michigan as DTE’s first VPP pilot project, and a defining moment for Veridian.”
Matt Grocoff, Founder of Thrive Collaborative
“We’re incredibly proud that this community can serve as the place where this vision can move from concept to reality, and grateful to everyone involved for helping bring it to life.”
Blake Richetta, Chairman and CEO of sonnen Inc.
“The Veridian VPP pilot will be a true demonstration of the decentralized, digitalized and decarbonized energy system of the future.”
Blake Richetta, Chairman and CEO of sonnen Inc.
“By coordinating intelligent batteries across an entire community, we are turning individual home batteries into a pooled, grid-interactive resource that responds to grid needs in real time.”
Blake Richetta, Chairman and CEO of sonnen Inc.
“We’re proud to partner with DTE, a world-class utility and a pleasure to work with.”
Blake Richetta, Chairman and CEO of sonnen Inc.
“Their innovative spirit and firm resolve are making Michigan’s first grid-interactive VPP community a reality, and that is a major achievement.”
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DTE Energy and sonnen today announced the launch of Michigan's first residential battery virtual power plant pilot at Veridian at County Farm, an innovative carbon-neutral community developed by Thrive Collaborative. The pilot is a first step toward showing how connected home batteries can be used to reduce energy costs, improve reliability and create a more flexible electric grid while delivering greater value for customers.
Approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission, the two-year pilot will virtually connect nearly 100 homes through sonnen battery systems and VPP technology. By coordinating individual residential batteries as an additional grid resource, DTE will evaluate how this approach could ultimately help meet growing energy demand while supporting reliability and affordability goals for customers. This approach aligns with recent MPSC recommendations encouraging greater use of distributed energy resources and existing assets to help lower energy costs for Michigan families.
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