SMA Corporate News

SMA Becomes the First Manufacturer Worldwide to Receive UL Certification for Its Transformerless Inverters

Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:17:00 +0200

SMA Solar Technology AG continues to expand its technological lead over the competition, and has set the course for the increased use of transformerless solar inverters in the United States. The leading manufacturer of solar inverters has become the first company in the world to receive certification from Underwriters Laboratories® (UL) for transformerless inverters. The certification applies to SMA transformerless Sunny Boy 8000TL-US, Sunny Boy 9000TL-US, and Sunny Boy 10000TL-US inverters and was granted as a result of complying with "UL Standard 1741 for PV and Battery-Powered Inverters,” which, for the first time includes requirements on transformerless inverters.

This UL certification can be seen as laying the foundation for the safe and widespread use of transformerless inverters in the U.S. Due to the special requirements of American standards, up until now PV plants in the U.S. were almost always designed using transformer-based, galvanically isolating devices. In comparison, transformerless inverters are more efficient (among other benefits), which means the operators will benefit accordingly as a result of increased energy yield. In addition, their reduced weight will make it significantly easier for installers to mount the devices.

UL is one of the world's most renowned product safety certification organizations, and working together with SMA, developed a highly complex testing procedure for transformerless inverters. In addition to other things, monitoring residual currents and ground faults were integrated, which means maximum safety for the user. As a result, the UL 1741 Standard of Safety was expanded to include the requirements of the IEC 62109 Standard. In contrast to string inverters offered by other manufacturers, SMA's certified inverters also have an attractive price-performance ratio and class-leading efficiency. The Sunny Boy 8000TL-US and Sunny Boy 9000TL-US feature unmatched weighted efficiencies of 98 percent according to the California Energy Commission (CEC), while the Sunny Boy 10000TL-US achieved 97.5 percent.

"Thanks to the OptiTrac MPP tracking procedure, which is patented in the U.S., and the OptiCool™ active cooling system, we ensure that our inverters have above-average efficiency, even when used in areas with high ambient temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), which means we are way ahead of other manufacturers from a technological standpoint," says Bernd Engel, senior vice president of technology and development at SMA Solar Technology AG.

The first UL certification for transformerless inverters is not just significant for SMA, but also for the entire North American market.

"For the first time, highly efficient SMA transformerless inverters can be used in the U.S.,” says Engel. “This represents both a reduction of system costs and leap ahead technologically. In addition, the Sunny Boy 10000TL-US was developed based on SMA’s transformerless Sunny Mini Central, which is now the best-selling and most successful inverter worldwide.”

Ultimately, the close cooperation between SMA and the certification organization UL, which SMA has worked with for many years, is crucial to its success. "These projects are characterized by their transparent dialog between experts from both companies, and experiences are shared in an open and honest manner. Doing so offers the best conditions from which to design demanding testing procedures and high-quality inverters." In reality, it is difficult for products which have not received UL certification to be successful in the US market. In addition, according to Engel, UL certification is not only in demand in the US, but in Canada as well. "In light of this fact, certifying our transformerless US inverters also represents a further milestone in expanding our leading position in the market," concludes Engel. SMA certified inverters, which can be finely adjusted from 8 to 10 kW, are especially suited to use in PV plants from the medium power range to the megawatt class, and are shipped with a DC disconnect as well as a Combiner Box.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.
www.SMA-America.com

Media Contact:
Brad Dore • Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com
SMA America, LLC • 916 625 0870

SMA America Welcomes Senior Business Development Manager for Utility-Scale Systems

Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:03:00 +0200

ROCKLIN, Calif., Aug. 12, 2010—SMA America LLC, the North American arm of the world’s largest manufacturer of solar inverters, SMA Solar Technology AG, has expanded its Key Accounts team by adding industry veteran Elie Nasr as its senior business development manager in charge of utility-scale PV.

In this role, Nasr will develop new opportunities for the company in the utility-scale PV market segment and serve as an advocate to national regulatory officials and regional transmission organizations. He will also analyze, monitor and report on potential business partnerships and develop new opportunities with both public and private organizations.

“Elie’s technical background and extensive knowledge of the utility power market, network analysis, interconnection requirements, grid stability and SCADA operations will allow SMA to extend its leadership position in the largest PV inverter categories,” said Dave Wojciechowski, director of sales at SMA America. “We are excited to have him and feel he will be a valuable resource for our customers.”

Most recently, Nasr worked as a consultant at Xtensible Power Technology Inc., a self-founded company which provided a variety of executive-level advisory services to utilities and companies servicing utility transmission and distribution.

Before that, Nasr served as the vice president of business development for the utility segment of Satcon Technology Corporation, a provider of renewable energy solutions for distributed power markets. There, he led the company’s new business objectives for utility-scale PV.

“SMA has recently attracted a number of top industry talents to help us serve the North American market even better,” said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager at SMA America. “By employing the most seasoned PV professionals we are investing in the belief that our partners benefit directly through an exceptional customer experience.”

Nasr’s utility-related career spans almost 25 years. He began as a power systems engineer at GE Energy, where he held increasing levels of responsibility in power engineering software development and analysis, SCADA project engineering and technical sales. Nasr then transitioned to Siemens Power Technology International, a division of Siemens Energy, where he led the go-to-market strategy and promotion of Siemens PTI common information modeling/analysis (CIM) software. He also served as a company consultant for utility transmission and distribution planning, real-time operations, interconnection studies and stability analysis.

Nasr, an IEEE member, holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.
www.SMA-America.com

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.

SMA Expands North American Utility-Scale PV Inverter Line

Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:28:00 +0200

ROCKLIN, Calif., July 29, 2010—SMA America LLC, the U.S.-based subsidiary of global solar technology leader SMA Solar Technology AG, has expanded its U.S. line of utility products with the Sunny Central High Efficiency (HE) line of solar inverters. The new 500 and 630 kilowatt inverters provide integrators, project developers and EPCs with a utility-scale 1000VDC solution that features the industry’s best efficiency in the medium voltage interconnection category.

The Sunny Central 500HE features a maximum output of 550 kVA, while the 630HE produces 700 kVA. Both provide full AC-rated active power while maintaining a 0.9 lagging/leading power factor range while operating continuously at 50 degrees Celsius. By connecting to an external medium voltage transformer to accommodate long distance power feeds to distribution substations, the HE line is ideal for utility installations and industry leading maximum and weighted efficiencies of 98.6 and 98.4 percent result in an outstanding energy yield.

“The Sunny Central 500HE and 630HE inverters are key components of SMA’s fast-growing, North American utility-scale business,” said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager at SMA America. “They demonstrate our leadership position in terms of innovative technology and extensive experience with multi-megawatt projects.”

Integrated grid management features such as remote control of active and reactive power, automatic over-frequency response, automatic power factor adjustment, power curtailment and low voltage ride through provide power system operators with essential grid stability tools, making the Sunny Central HE line extremely grid-friendly.

Available with a 99 percent uptime guarantee, the new inverters are also designed to increase ROI for developers by maximizing energy production.

Two Sunny Central 500HE or 630HE inverters can be combined in a packaged solution with one medium voltage transformer to provide a 1.00MW-MV Station or 1.25MW-MV Station, both of which simplify large-scale deployment.

The Modbus® Gateway, OPC/ODBC interface and open SCADA communications allow for easy integration of the high efficiency inverters into existing plant, utility or third party monitoring systems.

“Whether it’s a utility company looking for the best in grid control and reliability or a developer looking for an experienced, bankable business partner, SMA is the solution,” said Dave Wojciechowski, director of sales for SMA America.

SMA’s North American HE line also consists of the Sunny Central 500HE-US, launched earlier in the year, which is designed for large-scale projects requiring UL-listing and is also available with a medium voltage transformer in a 1.00MW-MV Station.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.
www.SMA-America.com

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.

Solar Technology Leader SMA America to Expand and Move Headquarters to Rocklin Corporate Center

Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:54:00 +0200

ROCKLIN, Calif., June 24, 2010 – Don Little Group (DLG), a Northern California real estate investment and development advisory firm, has signed SMA America, LLC, the U.S.-based subsidiary of SMA Solar Technology AG, the world’s largest solar inverter manufacturer, to occupy 40,000 sq. ft. of space at Rocklin Corporate Center. Effective August 2010 for a seven-year term, SMA America is relocating its headquarters, more than quadrupling its office space.

“We are pleased to welcome SMA America to Rocklin Corporate Center, marking one of the most significant lease deals in the Rocklin region in the last year,” said Don Little, president and CEO of DLG.

“With renewable energy emerging as the wave of the future, SMA America and its cutting-edge solar technology products will be well poised to thrive and grow at its new headquarters.”

As part of a leading international renewable energy company, SMA America produces and provides North America with solar inverter products for all power classes, from small residential photovoltaic (PV) systems through utility-scale systems. Solar inverters are the key component in PV systems that convert direct-current electricity into alternating-current electricity, which is required for use on the public power grid.

SMA America’s move to Rocklin Corporate Center is predicated on its massive growth coupled with its desire for Class A office space in a premier and central location in the Rocklin-Roseville area. Currently, SMA America occupies a 25,000 sq. ft. mixed-use building in the Del Mar business park in Rocklin, 8,000 sq. ft. of which is office space with the rest utilized for its warehouse. SMA America will maintain this location as its service and distribution center, moving all office operations to Rocklin Corporate Center, including sales, marketing, finance and all administrative personnel.

“The Rocklin Corporate Center is one of the best developed and well positioned office parks in the greater Sacramento region,” said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America. “With the aid of our partners, we were able to secure a highly visible and accessible building with state-of-the-art features and amenities that will meet our needs today and in the future as we continue the sustained growth of our North American operations.”

The Rocklin Corporate Center, a Class A office park located at 6020 and 6030 West Oaks Blvd., is comprised of two steel frame, three-story buildings, each totaling approximately 109,000 sq. ft. It boasts floor-to-ceiling reflective and high performance, dual pane glass windows that offer panoramic views of the Sierra Mountains and double-sided lobbies with natural stone materials. It also delivers modern day interior finishes, including sustainable elements such as low flow fixtures, recycled content in carpet and ceiling tiles, cool roof, and low VOC paints.

Adjacent to Highway 65, the Rocklin Corporate Center is located in the heart of one of the most active real estate markets in the greater Sacramento region and within a high technology and business hub that includes a nearby Oracle Corporation campus and other high-profile companies such as Hewlett-Packard and AT&T.

The Rocklin Corporate Center is owned by Opus Properties LLC, which retains DLG to serve as real estate and development advisor for its Northern California portfolio. Kevin Larsheid and Scott Rush of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord in leasing the Rocklin Corporate Center, while Jeff Pehrson and John Walston of TRI Commercial represented SMA America.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.

About SMA America, LLC
SMA America is the U.S.-based subsidiary of SMA Solar Technology AG, headquartered in Germany, and provides North America with the world’s finest inverter, control and monitoring products for renewable energy sources, primarily solar. With more than 25 years of experience, SMA continues to lead the global solar inverter market with unmatched technological innovation, strong service support and educational programs. SMA is the world leader in solar inverter technology and manufacturing and takes pride in a product range of inverters compatible with any module and power class, for grid-tied as well as off-grid and backup applications.

About Don Little Group
Don Little Group specializes in real estate investment, advisory services and development and has been retained by Opus Properties LLC to service its Northern California portfolio, which includes Opus Center Sierra Point in Brisbane, Calif. (450,000 sq. ft. of Class A office space); Opus Logistics Center in Stockton, Calif. (8.2 million sq. ft. industrial distribution center under development); Gateway Corporate Center in Sacramento, Calif. (240,000 sq. ft. of Class A office space); Opus Corporate Center in Roseville, Calif. (120,000 sq. ft. of Class A office space); and Rocklin Corporate Center in Rocklin, Calif. (218,000 sq. ft. of Class A office space).

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.

Maximum Efficiency and Substantially Reduced System Costs: SMA Sunny Central 800CP Distinguished with the Intersolar Award 2010

Anja.Jasper@SMA.de — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0200

SMA Solar Technology AG received the Intersolar Award in the photovoltaics category at this year’s Intersolar in Munich. The prize was awarded for the entirely redesigned Sunny Central 800CP. “CP” stands for compact power: the new SMA central inverters offer both superior output and performance in a small space, and is the first PV inverter to offer 800 kVA of nominal power in combination with 98.6 percent efficiency as a single device.

Its compact and weatherproof housing also makes it easy to load, offers simple transportation and can be set up nearly anywhere. An additional reason for the distinction was the enormous cost-minimizing potential that the central inverter offers for the realization of large-scale plants.

SMA has received the Intersolar Award for the second time, once again demonstrating the company’s innovative strength in various market segments. The company received the award for Sunny Boy 5000TL in 2008, ideal for the private rooftop plant segment. This time the award was given to Sunny Central 800CP. The SMA central inverter is specially designed for use in solar power plants, and impressed the jury with its high level of efficiency and contribution to system cost reduction.

Maximum efficiency and integrated monitoring functions ensure highly reduced system costs

“The SC 800CP redefines system technology for large-scale plants and makes them economical in the long run by consistently following SMA’s development strategy: integrating top performance and the latest technologies into an exceedingly compact inverter. That has allowed SMA to dramatically lower system costs and simultaneously increase inverter efficiency,” says Jürgen Reekers, who received the award and heads the Central Inverter Development Division at SMA.
The background situation: central inverters in this performance category have traditionally been housed in concrete stations, which not only meant substantial material and transport costs, but also respectively high levels of CO2 emissions. Even plant monitoring – previously distributed across the field – is associated with significant planning and installation expenditure. With the new Sunny Central 800CP, SMA is now able to increase performance by over 25% as compared to comparable devices and simultaneously reduce system costs by up to 35%, thus considerably increasing the large-scale plant operating efficiency.

Simple installation through compact construction and intelligent technology

Eliminating the concrete station, integrating string monitoring into the inverter and compact construction also make installation significantly easier. Moreover, it considerably reduces CO2 emissions, and makes setting up large solar power plants no problem – even in areas that are difficult to access. Intelligent power management is another new feature: together with the OptiCool cooling concept, the device provides the full 880 kVA in continuous operation at an ambient temperature of up to 25°C – 10% more than the listed nominal power. Sunny Central 800CP is the first outdoor-ready PV inverter with more than 500 kVA output and a compact housing. With its comprehensive grid-management features, it also meets all existing and future standards. And yet another outstanding feature: the world’s only Optiprotect function monitors up to 1,600 individual strings for potential failure in combination with intelligent fault management, while an integrated, self-learning approach eliminates time-intensive calibrations.

The overall result is a dramatic reduction in system costs and maximum inverter efficiency. “The EPIA has set the ambitious goal of 12% photovoltaic power generation in Europe by 2020. The use of large-scale PV power plants and their comparably lower system costs is imperative to achieving that objective. The market for large-scale PV plants is growing at a fast pace worldwide, including in North America, India, and China. Thanks to its one-of-a-kind flexibility and affordable price, Sunny Central 800CP can be present in all of these markets," remarked SMA Chief Technology Officer Roland Grebe following the awards ceremony.

Sunny Central 800CP has been produced in Europe since May 2010 and is expected to be available to the North American market by the fourth quarter of this year.

Sunny Central 800CP advantages at a glance:

Substantial cost reduction with an innovative outdoor concept
Higher yields with intelligent power management
Efficiency and longevity with the active OptiCool® cooling concept
Cost-optimized operation monitoring with Optiprotect
Security for the future with integrated grid support technologies

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.

SMA Powers St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Dream Home®

Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:38:00 +0200

ROCKLIN, Calif., June 8, 2010—SMA America, LLC, the U.S.-based subsidiary of global solar technology leader SMA Solar Technology AG, has partnered with leading solar integrator Idaho Solar Design & Consulting, Inc. to provide two SMA Sunny Boy 5000U solar inverters for the St. Jude Boise, Idaho Dream Home®. The home features an 8.2 kilowatt (kW) solar electric system and will be raffled off as part of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway fundraiser.

The system was designed and installed by Idaho Solar Design & Consulting and features 44 Lumos LS185 solar modules. Two Sunny Boy 5,000 watt inverters will convert the direct current electricity into usable alternating current to power the home.

Expected to generate more than 15,000 kilowatt hours of grid compatible electricity per year, the PV system is a key component in Idaho’s first verified net zero carbon home.

“SMA is proud to support the efforts of St. Jude Children’s hospital and commends those involved who donated their products and services,” said Jeffrey Philpott, director of marketing at SMA America. “This net zero home serves as an outstanding example of how solar power can contribute to not only generating revenue for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, but providing its future homeowner with clean, renewable power for decades.”

The home is part of the St. Jude Children’s Hospital annual Dream Home Giveaway fundraising event. Like several others across the country, it will be given away to one lucky raffle winner with the proceeds benefiting the St. Jude Hospital network. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the home, online or by calling 1-800-537-8939. The final drawing will be held on June 27, 2010.

Carbon Neutral Home in Boise, Idaho to be Raffled Away in Fundraiser

“We appreciate SMA’s support with this project,” said Dustin Baker, CEO of Idaho Solar Design & Consulting. “It was imperative we used the most advanced, and most reliable, solar inverters available, which meant there was only one choice—the Sunny Boy.”

The home will be open for tours on the weekend through June 20, 2010.

Additional Details
Address:4859 W. Willow Lane
Boise, ID 83703

Open House: May 22, 2010 through June 20, 2010
Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sundays 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Sunny Boy is the world’s most popular line of solar inverters and features class leading efficiency and reliability; its longevity is enhanced via SMA’s patented OptiCool active temperature-management system and rugged cast-aluminum outdoor-rated enclosure. Sunny Boy inverters are certified to the UL 1741/IEEE1547 standard and include a 10 year factory warranty, with the ability to extend up to 20 years.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.

SMA America Delivers ARRA Compliant Sunny Boy Solar Inverters

Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:09:00 +0200

ROCKLIN, Calif., May 25, 2010—SMA America, the U.S.-based subsidiary of global solar technology leader SMA Solar Technology AG, has announced the availability of select Sunny Boy solar inverters for projects requiring compliance with the “Buy American” clause in the American Reconstruction and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The ARRA compliant solar inverters are available for immediate shipment.

Currently, all Sunny Boy models assembled in Denver, which include solar inverters ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 watts, are ARRA compliant.

A range of additional products will also be produced at SMA’s Denver, Colo. site in the coming months and will meet the guidelines established under the Buy American clause.

During this transitional period, a portion of Sunny Boy solar inverters for the North American market will continue to be manufactured at SMA’s award winning production site in Kassel, Germany. The domestically assembled, ARRA compliant solar inverters will be specially designated by a unique label. Installers and project developers requiring these specific inverters should contact their local distributors for ordering information.

“SMA is known for its innovative European design and manufacturing,” said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America. “With production in Denver, SMA has now paired German engineering with American assembly, setting an example for solar manufacturing in the U.S. while creating more than 700 domestic jobs.”

Additional SMA products, including Sunny Central inverters, which span commercial and utility power classes, and off-grid Sunny Island inverters will begin to be assembled at the new Denver facility within a few weeks.

“When we selected Denver as a manufacturing site, maintaining highest quality standards was of utmost importance to SMA and that kind of performance simply could not be found in low-cost locations worldwide,” added Krehnke. “In the coming months, SMA will demonstrate that the world’s leading PV inverters can be cost-competitively built in the U.S., thus helping to lead the way towards a strong ‘New Green Economy’ in North America.”

The Sunny Boy is the world’s most popular line of solar inverters and features class leading efficiency and reliability; its longevity is enhanced via SMA’s patented OptiCool active temperature-management system and rugged cast-aluminum outdoor-rated enclosure. Sunny Boy inverters are certified to the UL 1741/IEEE1547 standard and include a 10 year factory warranty, with the ability to extend up to 20 years.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.

SMA Solar Technology AG: Q1 2010 the most successful quarter in the Company’s history

Volker.Wasgindt@SMA.de — Fri, 14 May 2010 07:26:00 +0200

With € 339 million, sales in the first quarter exceed the Company’s forecast
Operating profit (EBIT) of € 92 million generated
EBIT margin with 27.2 % at a record level
1.3 GW inverter output sold
Supply bottleneck in the semiconductor industry restricts growth of SMA’s production
Unchanged sales and earnings forecast for 2010

SMA Solar Technology AG (FWB: S92) today publishes its quarterly financial report for the period from January to March 2010.

The first three months of 2010 were the most successful first quarter in SMA's history. SMA increased group sales to € 339.3 million, thus slightly exceeding the sales forecast of between € 310 and
€ 330 million, announced on March 31. This means that sales have almost quadrupled when compared to the same period of the previous year (Q1 2009: € 86.7 million).

The fundamental framework conditions in the photovoltaic sector changed significantly in the first quarter of 2010 versus the first quarter of 2009. The environment in the first three months of 2009 was characterized by uncertainty in the financial markets, the prospects of still falling module prices and the related sudden decline in worldwide demand for photovoltaic systems. In the first quarter of 2010, however, the pull-forward effects due to the announced further adjustment of the feed-in tariffs for solar power in Germany, the historically low interest level and low module prices resulted in continued peak demand, which had already begun in the second half of 2009.

In the period under review, SMA sold an inverter output of 1,288 MW (Q1 2009: 243 MW). The export ratio was 38.8 % in the first quarter, which is almost identical to the level of the whole year of 2009 of 38.4 % (Q1 2009: 52.5 %).
“Following a highly successful 2009 fiscal year, demand for our products in the first quarter of this year has been excellent again,” explains Günther Cramer, CEO of SMA Solar Technology AG. “We responded early on to the expected high demand and doubled our production capacities within the last few months to a total of 11 gigawatts.”

In the first quarter of 2010, SMA achieved an operating profit (EBIT) of € 92.4 million (Q1 2009: € 6.0 million), thus being highly profitable again. The EBIT margin of 27.2 % was only slightly below the record value of 28.7 % achieved in the fourth quarter of 2009 (Q1 2009: 6.9 %).

SMA’s consolidated net profit increased to € 66.6 million (Q1 2009: € 5.5 million). As at March 31, 2010, earnings per share were € 1.92 (Q1 2009: € 0.16).

The net working capital more than doubled by March 31, 2010 to € 199.6 million as compared to the end of the last fiscal year (December 31, 2009: € 98.6 million). The net working capital ratio in relation to the last twelve months’ sales was 16.8 % and within the corridor of between 16 % and 18 %, pursued by the Managing Board. The increase in net working capital is due primarily to the planned increase in inventories (particularly raw materials, consumables and supplies), which is intended to secure a maximum utilization of production capacities.

Cash and cash equivalents as well as securities fell slightly to € 349.3 million as at March 31, 2010 (December 31, 2009: € 365.0 million). Net cash, less current and non-current financial liabilities amounted to € 326.5 million. The equity ratio changed insignificantly to 56.1 % (December 31, 2009: 56.7 %).

After the quarter under review, the demand for SMA products has further increased. The main drivers, also in the second quarter, are pull-forward effects due to the planned reduction of feed-in tariffs in Germany as at July 1, 2010 and lower module prices. However, several weeks ago, important suppliers, mainly semiconductor manufacturers, notified SMA that they would not be able to adhere to their promises for additional delivery quantities. As a result of insufficient supply with electronic components, SMA is currently not able to raise its production significantly beyond the output volume of the fourth quarter of 2009, as originally intended. This means that SMA can use the new inverter production in Kassel-Waldau, established in the first quarter of 2010 with an additional capacity of
5 GW p.a., to a low degree only. The Managing Board of SMA expects that the supply situation will improve successively in the second half of the year. Further information about the current delivery situation for PV inverters is available on SMA’s website: www.SMA.de/Delivery.

“The inadequate supply of electronic components affects not only all inverter manufacturers but a number of other sectors as well,” explains Günther Cramer, CEO of SMA Solar Technology AG. “As soon as the material supply situation has relaxed, will we be able to supply a considerably greater number of inverters within a very short time owing to our expansion of production capacities.”

The Managing Board continues to adhere to its sales forecast for fiscal 2010 of between € 1.1 and € 1.3 billion with an EBIT margin of between 20 % and 23 %.

The quarterly financial report January to March 2010 is available on our website at www.SMA.de/IR/FinancialReports.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,500 (incl. temporary employees). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.

SMA Solar Technology AG
Sonnenallee 1
34266 Niestetal
Germany

Press contact:
Volker Wasgindt
Head of Press Relations and Public Affairs
Phone +49 561 9522-11 21
Fax +49 561 9522-11 03
Volker.Wasgindt@SMA.de

Investor Relations:
Anna Raudszus (Institutional Investors/Analysts)
Director Investor Relations
Phone +49 561 9522-22 22
Fax +49 561 9522-22 23
ir@SMA.de

Julia Damm (Private Investors)
Phone +49 561 9522-11 64

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.

SMA Inverters Chosen for 31kW AZUR Solar System at Renowned Orlando Science Center

Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:49:00 +0200

ROCKLIN, Calif., May 4, 2010—AZUR Solar has completed a 31kilowatt solar electric system for the Orlando Science Center utilizing four SMA Sunny Boy 7000US solar inverters to convert the direct current (DC) electricity collected by the panels into grid-compatible alternating current (AC) electricity for use in the building.

The photovoltaic (PV) system was installed on the Science Center’s roof and is comprised of 144 high-efficiency AZUR 2P solar panels. It is expected to produce 42,250 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year.

Sunny Boy inverters were selected for the project based on their industry-leading efficiency and reliability.

“Due to the high visibility and importance of this project, we knew we needed the best available UL-listed inverters to pair with our revolutionary AZUR 2P panels,” said Philip Riddle, president and CEO of AZUR Solar USA. “The obvious choice was SMA.”

In addition to the roof-mounted system, an interactive Solar Educational Exhibit will be built inside the Science Center and will provide real-time and historical performance data. Visitors will be able to see the amount of energy that the system has produced as well as the environmental savings. A visual display of the system components will contain explanations of evolving solar technologies.

“SMA was excited to partner with AZUR Solar to provide an exceptional system for the Orlando Science Center,” said Dave Wojciechowski, director of sales at SMA America. “SMA values education and knows this system will yield not only clean power but learning opportunities for multiple generations.”

The energy produced by the PV array will be used to offset the site’s power consumption and reduce the Science Center’s operating costs for more than 25 years. Any excess power will be fed back into the utility grid. The Orlando Utility Commission, which serves more than 250,000 local customers, provided close cooperation and assistance on the project.

The Orlando Science Center was first incorporated in 1955 and the most recent building opened in 1997. It is one of America’s top hands-on science centers and provides educational opportunities both within and outside the center’s walls. More than 400,000 visitors tour the location each year.

The Sunny Boy is the world’s most popular line of solar inverters and features class leading efficiency and reliability; its longevity is enhanced via SMA’s patented OptiCool active temperature-management system and rugged cast-aluminum outdoor-rated enclosure. Sunny Boy inverters are certified to the UL 1741/IEEE1547 standard and include a 10 year factory warranty, with the ability to extend up to 20 years.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.

About AZUR Solar USA
AZUR Solar USA is the North American affiliate of AZUR Solar GmbH, a worldwide leader in solar energy products. AZUR Solar engineers complete PV installations and provides solar modules, mounting systems, inverters, tracking systems, cabling, and data collection/monitoring.

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.

SMA Solar Inverter Factory Distinguished with International Energy Efficiency Award

Brad.Dore@SMA-America.com — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:28:00 +0200

Niestetal, Germany, April 27, 2010 – Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena), an alliance comprised of the German Energy Agency and European power companies, has honored SMA Solar Technology AG with the 2010 International Energy Efficiency First Place Award for its groundbreaking CO2-neutral solar inverter factory, located in Kassel, Germany.

The award presentation was held in during the World Energy Dialogue event at Hannover Messe in Germany.

The international prize is granted to companies for outstanding projects that help to increase energy efficiency and considerably reduce energy consumption.

The SMA factory, the world’s largest with an annual production capacity of up to five gigawatts, sits on 193,000 square feet of floor space, yet has the lowest energy requirements and highest efficiency of consumed energy possible. The building envelop utilizes a low-energy building standard. Energy consumption is substantially reduced for the production and testing facilities and is achieved through efficiency measures in the production process. The optimal use of daylight, intelligent ventilation and the use of storage units for heating and cooling, work in conjunction with the energy and building design concepts to maximize efficiency.

The remaining electricity and heat demand is covered by renewable energy sources: an integrated PV system, with an approximate power of 1.1 megawatts, and a combined heat and power plant fueled with bio-gas, which generates CO2-neutral electricity. Additional green electricity is purchased to cover any outstanding energy consumption by the production facility.

In the future, the CO2 balance will be further compensated through the installation of additional nearby photovoltaic systems.

The required heat base load is also produced by the biogas-powered combined heat and power plant. Excess heat coming from the air compressor used for powered tools and lifting gear is repurposed for the heating system. Additional heat demand is covered by using district heating from a nearby waste incineration plant. Finally, an absorption refrigeration machine uses the heat of the combined heat and power plant for air conditioning.

The award jury’s assessment read:

To achieve CO2-neutral production, SMA has worked with experts to develop and implement an [sic] own energy plan which intelligently combines different energy sources to generate heat, cold, compressed air and electricity as required. It uses existing synergies, controls energy flows as required and matches them optimally to one another. In addition, ultramodern technology is used, together with the utilization of renewable sources to produce energy, such as the sun and biogas. SMA has been awarded the first prize for building a forward-looking facility, which sets the standard for future projects.

“With our inverter factory we wanted to demonstrate that highly modern, climate-neutral industrial production on a demanding technical level is possible today,” said Guenther Cramer, chief executive officer of SMA Solar Technology AG. ”The factory is meant to be a flagship project for the expansion of renewable energies and the avoidance of CO2 emissions. To us, the first prize of the Energy Efficiency Award 2010 is another confirmation that we have chosen the right way.”

About the Energy Efficiency Award
Since 2007, as part of the “Initiative EnergieEffizienz,” the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) in cooperation with Deutsche Messe AG and DZ Bank AG presents the international Energy Efficiency Award to innovative companies for outstanding projects that help to increase energy efficiency. The award is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than sales of 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 4,000 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.