Ontario-assembled Inverters now Approved for use Down to -40 Celsius

TORONTO, Aug. 2, 2011—SMA Canada has released a temperature-hardened version of its Sunny Boy, the world's most popular solar inverter. Designed specifically for the Canadian PV market, the new Sunny Boy 5000-US, 6000-US, 7000-US and 8000-US are ideal for residential and commercial applications and feature an extended operating temperature range to -40 Celsius.

"These new inverters include all of the innovative features of the Sunny Boy, but with the ability to be deployed in colder regions," said Jurgen Krehnke, president of SMA Canada. "This directly addresses the needs of Canadian solar professionals, who require hardened devices to accommodate projects in even the most difficult climates."

The Sunny Boy 5000-US, 6000-US, 7000-US and 8000-US inverters are certified to UL and CSA standards and feature class-leading efficiencies up to 97 percent. Their longevity is enhanced via SMA's patented OptiCool™ active temperature-management system and rugged cast-aluminum, outdoor-rated enclosure. Automatic grid-voltage detection and an integrated DC disconnect switch simplify installation, ensuring safety while saving time. These models also feature galvanic isolation and can be used with all types of modules—crystalline as well as thin-film. Sunny Boy inverters include a 10-year factory warranty, with the ability to extend up to 20 years.

Installers can utilize SMA's Sunny Design software to configure a PV system with the Sunny Boy 5000-US, 6000-US, 7000-US and 8000-US models. Once the project is complete, SMA's advanced data collection and communication devices, such as the Sunny WebBox data logger and Sunny Beam wireless desktop monitor, can be used to help installers track system performance. Data can be transmitted by cable or through the integrated Bluetooth® wireless communication system to the SMA Sunny Portal, the world's largest Web platform for monitoring, managing and presenting photovoltaic systems.

The temperature-hardened Sunny Boy 5000-US, 6000-US, 7000-US and 8000-US inverters are being assembled on behalf of SMA by Celestica, a global leader in the delivery of end-to-end product lifecycle solutions, to meet Ontario's microFiT and FiT domestic content requirements.

About SMA
The SMA Group, with sales of 1.9 billion euros in 2010, is the world market leader for solar inverters, a component that lies at the heart of every solar power system. Its headquarters is situated in Niestetal near Kassel and it also has 17 foreign subsidiaries situated on four continents. In 2010, the Corporate Group employed over 5,000 persons (including temporary staff). SMA produces a wide spectrum of inverter types, the optimal inverter for each type of solar module used and offers all the power classes required for solar power systems. The product portfolio includes both inverters for grid-connected solar power systems and stand-alone systems. Since 2008, the parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (S92) and in the TecDAX. Over the past few years, SMA has received several awards for its outstanding performance as an employer and lately reached first place in the federal "Great Place to Work" competition. www.SMA-Canada.ca