SMA America, Inc. is the western-hemisphere arm of global solar giant SMA Solar Technology AG, based in Germany. SMA America’s endeavor is to supply North America with the world’s finest inverter and control products for renewable energy sources, primarily solar. As the world leader in inverter technology and manufacturing, SMA provides more than 2.5 gigawatts of power around the globe from clean sources such as sun, wind, and water. Over the past 26 years, SMA’s academic background, forward-thinking technology and bold entrepreneurial vision have allowed the global leader in solar technology to expand across four continents.
SMA was founded in 1981 from research activities originally conducted at the University in Kassel — a German city at the heart of the renewable energy revolution. Twenty-five years ago, however, “renewable energy” was hardly discussed, and it was an uphill struggle to convince people that homes, businesses, and institutions could actually generate their own electricity, either for primary usage or backup in the event of grid failures (a.k.a., blackouts).
The rise of technology, coupled with increasing petroleum costs, helped to change that perception. Taking advantage of considerable research and development investment (with 250 engineers on staff, SMA devotes ten percent of its revenue to research), SMA was able to achieve previously unimaginable efficiencies in power conversion (the process of changing photovoltaic cells’ native direct current into utility-compatible alternating current), up to an astonishing 98 percent. In 1996, SMA launched the Sunny Boy line of inverters, which would quickly become the most popular line in the world. By the turn of the 21st century, opportunities were presenting themselves across the globe. As a result in 2000, SMA America, Inc. was founded, with its headquarters in California — home to 80 percent of the U.S. solar market at that time.
The needs of the American market are different from those in Europe; subsidy programs such as the California Solar Initiative make factors such as ease-of-installation and monitoring capability paramount. Thus, the latest Sunny Boy product line was designed and launched especially for the U.S. market, enabling SMA America to grow its market share to over 50 percent. And although SMA America focuses on—and dominates—the under-20-kilowatt sector, the company is aiming higher, with larger, commercial grade products ready for launch.
About SMA America, Inc.
SMA America, Inc. is a proud part of the worldwide SMA family of companies, with divisions in nine countries on four continents, boasting over 1,300 employees, and continuous double-digit growth. SMA America supports installers and small businesses in the solar industry through marketing and training assistance. Since 2000, SMA America has shown unfaltering commitment to the continued development and implementation of leading-edge products, including some of the most efficient solar inverters available nationwide.
