Enphase Energy Announces Collaboration with Essent in the Netherlands

Rhea-AI Summary

Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) has announced a strategic collaboration with Essent, one of the Netherlands' largest residential energy providers. Through this partnership, eligible Enphase solar customers can expand their systems with IQ® Batteries and participate in Essent's Smart Steering program.

The program offers homeowners monthly compensation of up to €122 for batteries up to 20 kWh when enrolled in Essent's fixed-rate energy contract. This initiative comes as the Netherlands prepares to transition away from net energy metering in 2027. The IQ Battery 5P system offers configurations from 5 to 60 kWh, with each 5-kWh unit delivering 3.84 kW of continuous power, backed by a 15-year warranty.

Positive

• Monthly compensation of up to €122 for participating homeowners
• Strategic positioning ahead of Netherlands' 2027 net metering transition
• Partnership with major Dutch energy provider enhances market presence
• Flexible battery configurations from 5 to 60 kWh with 15-year warranty

Negative

• Initial program limited to select Enphase solar-only customers
• Requires enrollment in Essent's fixed-rate energy contract

Insights

Energy Storage Market Analyst

Enphase's Essent partnership creates a recurring revenue opportunity in Netherlands ahead of 2027 net metering changes.

Enphase Energy's collaboration with Essent represents a strategically-timed market positioning move in the Netherlands. The partnership establishes a revenue-sharing model that benefits both companies while preparing for the country's 2027 transition away from net energy metering (NEM).

The economics are compelling: participating customers can receive up to €122 monthly for allowing Essent to manage their battery systems. This compensation scales with battery capacity (up to 20kWh), creating a direct incentive for larger storage installations. For Enphase, this encourages existing solar-only customers to upgrade with high-margin battery products while creating a pathway to expand overall market share in a key European market.

The timing aligns perfectly with regulatory changes. As the Netherlands phases out net metering in 2027, home batteries will shift from optional to essential for maximizing solar economics. This partnership positions Enphase ahead of this transition by establishing a value-added service model that addresses future market conditions.

The revenue implications extend beyond hardware sales. By collaborating with one of the Netherlands' largest energy providers, Enphase is essentially creating a recurring revenue channel. The "Smart Steering program" allows Essent to leverage battery capacity for grid services while homeowners receive predictable compensation – effectively transforming residential batteries into revenue-generating assets with Enphase as a key technology enabler.

The collaboration also validates Enphase's technological capabilities, as remote battery management requires sophisticated software and reliable hardware performance. By incorporating its IQ Batteries into utility demand response programs, Enphase demonstrates the grid-interactive capabilities of its ecosystem, potentially opening similar partnership opportunities across other European markets facing comparable regulatory shifts.

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, today announced a collaboration with Essent, one of the largest residential energy providers in the Netherlands. The collaboration enables eligible Enphase customers with solar to expand their systems with IQ^® Batteries and participate in Essent’s Smart Steering program, designed to help households increase self-consumption and lower energy bills.

Through the Smart Steering program, participating homeowners may qualify for fixed monthly compensation of up to €122. The amount scales with the size of the Enphase^® IQ Battery, up to 20 kWh, when they enroll in Essent’s fixed-rate energy contract. Essent will intelligently control the battery to optimize charging and discharging for the home and the grid, helping maximize value for the customer while contributing to a more reliable energy system.

As the Netherlands transitions away from net energy metering (NEM) in 2027, households will rely more on batteries to avoid export fees, boost solar utilization, and capture greater long-term value. Programs like Essent’s Smart Steering further enhance that value with predictable monthly incentives tied to intelligent battery management.

“Our collaboration with Enphase enables us to bring even more value to Dutch households with solar,” said Marleen Prins, chief operating officer at Essent. “By combining our Smart Steering program with Enphase IQ Batteries, homeowners benefit from fixed, affordable rates and can earn up to €122 per month. What makes this proposition unique is that Essent remotely monitors and manages the home battery, while the customer receives a fixed payment and enjoys a completely care-free experience."

“Working with Essent gives Dutch homeowners a simple path to get more from their solar,” said Marco Krapels, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Enphase Energy. “By pairing IQ Batteries with Essent’s Smart Steering program, customers can increase self-consumption of the solar energy they generate, receive fixed recurring payments for the battery steering from Essent, and be ready for changing market rules in the Netherlands due to the abolishment of net metering in 2027.”

The Enphase IQ Battery 5P supports configurations from 5 to 60 kWh. Each 5-kWh unit delivers 3.84 kW of continuous power, enabling fast charge and discharge that is well suited to maximize daily performance. Enphase offers 24/7 customer support and industry-leading warranties, including a 15-year warranty for IQ Battery 5P units activated in the Netherlands.

The initial Essent offer will launch with a limited number of Enphase solar-only customers, with broader availability to follow. To learn more about Enphase in the Netherlands, please visit the website.

About Essent

Essent is a leading Dutch energy supplier and part of the E.ON Group. The company provides electricity, gas, heating, and energy services to millions of customers across the Netherlands and is focused on helping households and businesses accelerate the energy transition.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power – and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 83.1 million microinverters, and more than 4.9 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in over 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected capabilities and performance of Enphase technology and products, including safety, quality, and reliability; the timing and scope of the Essent collaboration; the expected customer benefits; and market developments in the Netherlands. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in Enphase Energy’s most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other documents filed by Enphase Energy from time to time with the SEC. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

Contact:

Enphase Energy
press@enphaseenergy.com

FAQ

What is the partnership between Enphase Energy (ENPH) and Essent?

Enphase and Essent are collaborating to offer IQ® Battery systems to eligible Enphase solar customers in the Netherlands, with participation in Essent's Smart Steering program for optimized energy management.

How much can homeowners earn through Essent's Smart Steering program with Enphase batteries?

Homeowners can earn up to €122 per month in fixed compensation, with the amount scaling based on battery capacity up to 20 kWh.

What are the specifications of the Enphase IQ Battery 5P system?

The IQ Battery 5P supports configurations from 5 to 60 kWh, with each 5-kWh unit delivering 3.84 kW of continuous power and includes a 15-year warranty.

Why is this partnership important for Dutch homeowners?

This partnership helps homeowners prepare for the Netherlands' transition away from net energy metering in 2027, allowing them to avoid export fees, increase solar utilization, and earn monthly incentives.

How does Essent's Smart Steering program work with Enphase batteries?

Essent remotely monitors and manages the home battery system to optimize charging and discharging, providing homeowners with a care-free experience while contributing to grid reliability.