SMA America, CEP expand partnership for power station integration
SMA America and collaborator CEP have expanded their partnership to integrate SMA’s medium voltage power station (MVPS) solutions across the U.S., the companies announced Jan. 27.
The two companies have worked together for the past 18 years, reports say, with CEP serving as an integration and logistics partner for SMA’s MVPS products. The expansion initiative will expand SMA’s capabilities for American utility-scale solar and storage projects, SMA officials claim, and will also strengthen the Niestetal, Germany-based firm’s commitment to the U.S. as a premium market in the renewable energy transition.
“This expansion builds on nearly two decades of partnership and reflects our commitment to meeting U.S. customers where they are,” says Jay Arghestani, managing director of large-scale sales, technology and marketing at SMA America. “Domestic integration helps shorten project timelines, reduce shipping complexities and may contribute to domestic content strategies under the Inflation Reduction Act and modifications under the One Big Beautiful Bill.”
SMA inverters have helped avoid more than 64 million tons of CO2 emissions over the past 20 years, the company says. In 2026, even more of that technology will be available in 2026 thanks to a brand new facility dedicated to the cause.
Bolstering American presence
To keep up with rising American solar demand and evade the Trump administration’s manufacturing restrictions, CEP has opened a new facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. The facility will be dedicated to domestic product integration for the two partnering companies, officials say. Initial integration has already begun as of January, and a “major customer project” is set to be delivered by the end of February 2026.
“CEP is proud to deepen our partnership with SMA as we bring MVPS integration to the United States,” says Mario Melodia, CEO of CEP. “This investment positions us to support faster delivery, local expertise and the growing needs of utility-scale projects across the country.”
The partnership “aligns with national goals for energy independence and clean power infrastructure” across the U.S., SMA says. The company’s MVPS has been designed for utility-scale solar and storage applications, and representatives say further integration will help accelerate projects, as well as simplifying company logistics and service responsiveness in North America.
“The United States is our most important market and remains one of the fastest-evolving clean energy markets in the world,” says Florian Bechtold, executive VP, large scale at SMA Solar Technology A.G. “Establishing local integration capabilities is a strategic step that supports our customers, strengthens our supply chain and advances clean energy deployment.”
