SMA Solar to Restart US Manufacturing After a Decade with Create Energy Partnership

Image: SMA Solar

German inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology AG is set to restart US manufacturing for the first time in ten years through a new partnership with Create Energy, founded by Shoals Technologies’ billionaire entrepreneur Dean Solon.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced today, the two companies will establish a manufacturing base in Portland, Tennessee, to produce SMA’s Sunny Highpower PEAK3 string inverter and PowerSkid turnkey solution.

This marks SMA’s return to American manufacturing after shuttering its Denver, Colorado, facility in 2016, a move that cut 280 jobs. At the time, the company cited fierce competition and mounting price pressures as the driving factors.

Create Energy, positioned as a one-stop shop for developers, IPPs, and utilities, provides products and engineering services across the clean energy sector. Solon emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration, noting: “SMA and I have a long history. They are not only industry leaders but also a strong team to work with. This collaboration will advance renewable energy and deliver American-built inverters and skids. Partnering with SMA brings together complementary strengths, and together we are prepared to drive change in the energy sector.”

Manufacturing at the new Tennessee site is expected to begin in Q1 2026, with the MoU also covering joint sales and business development operations.

Jay Arghestani, managing director of large-scale sales, technology, and marketing at SMA America, said the partnership reinforces SMA’s long-term strategy in the US market: “This collaboration underscores SMA’s long-term commitment to the US market. We are proud to join forces with a company that shares our vision for a sustainable energy future and understands the importance of smart, scalable solutions for the US market. Partnering with Dean Solon – a key player in the renewable energy space – is an incredible honour. With Create, we’re poised to drive unprecedented growth and spark innovation across the inverter market.”