SMA America, CEP open power station integration facility
SMA America and longtime partner CEP have opened a new integration station for medium-voltage power stations in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
The new facility, first announced by CEP late last fall in the form of its new U.S.-based facility, will support domestic delivery of SMA’s medium-voltage power station (MVPS) solution in the U.S. Additionally, the plant advances SMA’s wider strategy as it aims to strengthen in-house execution in one of the energy space’s fastest-growing sectors.
Florian Bechtold, EVP of large scale for SMA Solar Technology AG, says this product integration helps both firms simplify timelines and manufacturing logistics.
“Domestic integration is a practical step toward meeting the pace and complexity of today’s energy projects,” he says. “It shortens delivery timelines, strengthens supply chain resilience and keeps us closer to our customers.”
SMA now manufactures its inverter products in Germany, ships them to CEP’s new Arkansas facility, and allows the company to integrate them into U.S.-made transformers. Having collaborated for nearly 20 years, the new facility expands the relationship between the two, allowing for dedicated U.S. capacity and supporting domestic energy demand.
Ramping capacity
Initial integration already began for the products earlier this year, the companies say. The first major customer project is scheduled for U.S. delivery by “early to mid-2026,” according to SMA America, coming just in time for the spiking demand in North America.
“CEP is proud to deepen our partnership with SMA as we bring MVPS integration to the United States,” says CEP CEO Mario Melodia. “This investment positions us to support faster delivery, provide local expertise, and meet the growing demands of utility-scale projects across the country.”
SMA’s MVPS products will greatly benefit from the new facility, as U.S.-based integration will speed up project execution for the two companies. Conversely, it also allows for SMA to maintain its engineering and quality standards for its products going into utility-scale solar and storage applications.
The MVPS combine a central inverter, transformer and switchgear, placed inside a 20-foot container. The products combine SMA’s German engineering expertise with localized manufacturing in key solar markets and segments, according to the company.
