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.