SMA Solar Technology AG, widely recognised as SMA, is a German firm specialising in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of solar inverters and energy management systems. Established in 1981, SMA is headquartered in Niestetal, Germany.
SMA was founded by Reiner Wettlaufer, Peter Drews, and Werner Kleinkauf, all of whom were engineers deeply passionate about renewable energy. Initially, SMA concentrated on crafting electronic components for the telecommunications sector during its early years.
However, during the early 1990s, the company redirected its focus toward the development of solar inverters. In 1995, SMA introduced its pioneering solar inverter, the Sunny Boy.
This innovative product transformed the solar industry by being the first inverter to feature a transformer-less design, enhancing efficiency and reliability compared to other inverters available. SMA continued its streak of innovation, unveiling the groundbreaking Sunny Island in 2000, a battery-based inverter enabling customers to store surplus solar energy for later consumption.
Sunny Island was a game-changer, allowing customers to enhance self-sufficiency and decrease reliance on the grid. In 2008, SMA went public and began trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, marking a highly successful IPO and positioning SMA as a top contender in the solar industry.
In the subsequent years, SMA expanded its product range and global presence. The company established offices and manufacturing facilities in Europe, Asia, and North America, producing diverse products suited for various applications, from residential rooftop solar systems to large-scale solar farms.
Presently, SMA ranks among the world’s premier manufacturers of solar inverters and energy management systems. With a global footprint spanning more than 20 countries through offices and distribution centres, SMA’s products cater to a wide array of applications, from residential and commercial solar systems to utility-scale solar ventures.
SMA’s triumph is underpinned by a resolute commitment to innovation and quality. The company invests substantially in research and development, backed by a team of seasoned engineers dedicated to crafting pioneering solutions.
SMA also adheres to a stringent quality control process to ensure that every product departing its facilities meets the highest standards of quality and reliability. To sum up, SMA boasts a rich heritage of innovation and quality, propelled by its dedication to research and development and unwavering quality assurance practices.
As a leader in the solar inverter and energy management system sector with a global reach and customer-centric approach, SMA is well-positioned to sustain its growth and prosperity in the foreseeable future.
SMA Solar Technology AG, a German company, specialises in the development, production, and sale of solar inverters and energy management systems. With manufacturing facilities in Germany and China, SMA is a global leader in solar inverter production.
The primary manufacturing hub for SMA is in Kassel, Germany, boasting one of the world’s largest solar inverter production capacities, exceeding 11 GW annually. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and staffed by experienced engineers, this facility ensures high-quality, reliable solar inverters.
Additionally, SMA operates a manufacturing facility in Niestetal, Germany, focused on producing energy management systems for residential and commercial solar energy optimisation. SMA’s presence extends to China, with a facility in Wuxi dedicated to producing Sunny Boy and Sunny Tripower inverters for residential and commercial solar systems, boasting an impressive 7 GW annual production capacity.
Overall, SMA’s combined production capacity exceeds 18 GW annually, making it a prominent global solar inverter manufacturer. Their commitment to quality and innovation positions them as industry leaders, backed by a track record of awards and recognition.
Awards include being named a finalist for the German Sustainability Award in 2022, demonstrating SMA’s dedication to sustainable solutions in the renewable energy sector.
SMA Australia Pty Ltd.
213 Miller Street
North Sydney, NSW 2060
Tel : +61 (0)2 9491 4200 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST)
Email : info@SMA-Australia.com.au
Freecall 1800 SMA AUS (1800 762 287) (Mon-Fri 8am-6om AEST)
If you wish to complete their contact us form, this can be found here.
Single or Three Phase Solution
Sunny Boy Storage – 3.7/5.0/6.0 kW
The SMA Single Phase Hybrid Inverter is a groundbreaking technology that is revolutionizing the field of energy storage. Developed by SMA, a global leader in solar and storage solutions, this innovative device combines the benefits of solar power and battery storage, enabling homeowners and businesses to maximize their energy independence and efficiency.
One of the key features of the SMA Single Phase Hybrid Inverter is its ability to seamlessly integrate solar power generation and energy storage. By using solar panels to generate electricity during the day, excess energy can be stored in batteries for use during the night or periods of low solar production. This allows users to reduce their reliance on the grid and make the most of their self-generated clean energy.
Additionally, the SMA Single Phase Hybrid Inverter offers advanced monitoring and control capabilities, providing users with real-time insights into their energy production and consumption. Through the intuitive SMA monitoring platform, homeowners and businesses can easily track their energy usage, optimize their energy efficiency, and even remotely control their system settings.
Furthermore, the SMA Single Phase Hybrid Inverter features a sleek and compact design, making it an ideal choice for both residential and commercial installations. Its high efficiency and exceptional reliability ensure that users can enjoy a smooth and uninterrupted energy supply, while its compatibility with a wide range of battery technologies makes it a versatile solution for various energy storage applications.
In conclusion, the SMA Single Phase Hybrid Inverter offers a game-changing solution for energy storage, blending the power of solar energy with the convenience of battery storage. With its advanced features, seamless integration, and user-friendly monitoring platform, it empowers homeowners and businesses to take control of their energy consumption, reduce their carbon footprint, and embrace a more sustainable and independent energy future.
The inverter comes with a 10 year product and performance warranty and weighs 26-30 kg. They also have no screen on the front, meaning less things to go wrong. The inverter comes in 3 different sizes, 3.7, 5.0 and 6.0 kW. For more information on their 10 year warranty please click here.
This SMA inverter is compatible with several different battery brands, SMA do not produce their own battery. For a full list of compatible brands, please click here.
Some examples of compatible batteries and their capacities with this inverter are below.
Battery BYD HVS – 2.56 kWh Modular
The HVS (High Voltage Small) Battery box from BYD is capable of high-powered emergency back up, has a high efficiency due to real high-voltage series connections, is a cobalt free lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, meaning maximum safety, life cycle and power, and meets some of the highest safety standards, such as VDE 2510-50. Each battery box is composed of 2-4 HVS batteries connected in series to achieve a usable capacity of 5.1 to 10.24 kWh, and you can even parallel 3 of them together giving you a maximum of 30.72 kWh.
| Battery | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usable Capacity (kWh) | 5.12 | 7.68 | 10.24 |
| Weight (kg) | 91 | 129 | 167 |
Battery BYD HVM – 2.76 kWh Modular
The HVM (High Voltage Medium) Battery box from BYD is capable of high-powered emergency back up, has a high efficiency due to real high-voltage series connections, is a cobalt free lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, meaning maximum safety, life cycle and power, and meets some of the highest safety standards, such as VDE 2510-50. Each battery box is composed of 4-8 HVM batteries connected in series to achieve a usable capacity of 11.04 to 22.08 kWh, and you can even parallel 3 of them together giving you a maximum of 66.24 kWh.
| Battery | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usable Capacity (kWh) | 11.04 | 13.8 | 16.56 | 19.32 | 22.08 |
| Weight (kg) | 167 | 205 | 243 | 281 | 319 |
Battery LG Resu Flex – 4.3 kWh Modular
The LG Resu Flex, is a high-voltage battery system for 3-phase hybrid inverters for domestic use. They come in 3 different sizes, 8.6, 12.9 and 17.2 kWh. They can be wall mounted, such as the image, or they can be floor mounted. There are 2 main components, a control unit, the Battery Protection Unit (BPU), and at least 2 battery modules, the Battery Module Assemblies (BMA), with 4.3 kWh. The system can be expanded to up to 4 battery modules, giving you 17.2 kWh, and then you have the ability to connect 2 systems in parallel, allowing for up to 34.4 kWh of usable capacity.
| Battery | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usable Capacity (kWh) | 8.6 | 12.9 | 17.2 |
| Max Charge / Discharge Power (kW) | 4.3 | 6.5 | 8.5 |
Battery LG Resu 10H Prime – 10 kWh Modular
The LG Resu 10H Prime come in as a 10 kW battery with 9.6 kWh usable. They can be wall mounted or floor mounted. There are two main parts, the top section which is a battery control unit (BCU) and the lower section is the battery module itself, coming in at 41kg per section and there are two sections. The most you can parallel re 2, giving you a total usable capacity of 19.2 kWh.
| Battery | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable Capacity (kWh) | 9.6 | 19.2 |
| Max Charge / Discharge Power (kW) | 5 | 10 |
Battery LG Resu 16H Prime – 16 kWh Modular
The LG Resu 16H Prime come in as a 16 kW battery with 16 kWh usable. They can be wall mounted or floor mounted. There are two main parts, the top section which is a battery control unit (BCU) and the lower section is the battery module itself, coming in at 41kg per section and there are two sections. The most you can parallel are 2, giving you a total usable capacity of 19.2 kWh.
| Battery | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable Capacity (kWh) | 16 | 32 |
| Max Charge / Discharge Power (kW) | 7 | 14 |
Pros
PRO – German based company, larger 3 phase inverters made in Germany.
PRO -Australian Office
PRO – Quality inverter option. extremely well regarded within the industry
PRO – They manufacture all components themselves.
PRO – Built in patented ShadeFix solution
PRO – SMA are remotely monitoring your inverter for any anomalies
Cons
CON – German Engineered Products, but the single phase inverters not made in Germany, they moved production to China.
CON – According to Sinovoltaics analysis of financials, SMA sit in 15th place in the world, which is within the ‘safe’ zone. (source – Sinovoltaics report 2022)
CON – They don’t produce their own battery
Our Thoughts
A quality product, manufactured by a massive German company with a strong and long trading history.
The Australian office allows for warranty issues to be catered for, even if your installation company disappears, and they are remotely monitoring your inverter too.
They will be a good choice by anyone, that will last the test of time and produce power for years to come. In our experience with SMA inverters, they have been very robust, and do exactly what you want them to do.
We would definitely without a shadow of a doubt, put them on our own house or business.