SMA Solar has opened its new Gigawatt Factory in Germany to expand utility-scale manufacturing footprint
The facility has capacity to hold 60 GW of annual production capacity under full utilization
It also announced that CEO Jürgen Reinert has decided to step back temporarily; Olaf Hayden takes over CEO responsibilities in his absence
German solar inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has officially inaugurated its new Gigawatt Factory in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany. SMA has not specified the factory’s annual production capacity, but says the facility has space to accommodate more than 60 GW of annual production capacity when fully utilized.
Built for an investment of approximately €80 million, including €50 million for leasing and €30 million for production-related infrastructure and equipment, the factory is spread across 46,000 m².
It produces SMA’s latest generation of central inverters, battery storage solutions, and energy management devices for utility-scale applications. The Gigawatt Factory is a ‘key element’ in its long-term growth strategy in the utility-scale market.
In 2023, when SMA launched the construction of the Niestetal factory, it pegged its annual production capacity at 20 GW. It would have expanded the company’s total manufacturing capacity to 40 GW (see SMA Doubling Inverter Production Capacity).
“With the Gigawatt Factory, we are investing in the industrial capabilities needed to support the energy systems of the future,” said SMA Solar CFO Dr. Kaveh Rouhi. He added that it also strengthens European manufacturing.
In 2025, SMA announced a return to US manufacturing in partnership with Create Energy to produce string inverters in Tennessee from Q1 2026 (see German Inverter Maker SMA Solar Returns To US Manufacturing).
Earlier this year, in May 2026, along with CEP, SMA America announced the opening of a US-based integration facility in Arkansas to support domestic supply of its medium-voltage power station solutions, which combine a central inverter, transformer, and switchgear in a standardized 20-foot skidtainer.
Meanwhile, SMA separately announced that its CEO, Jürgen Reinert, will step back from his duties for the coming weeks due to illness. In his absence, the remaining members of the management board – Olaf Hayden and Kaveh Rouhi – will temporarily manage the company. Hayden will assume CEO responsibilities until further notice and also serve as the Chairman of the Managing Board.
Reinert has been mandated to remain SMA’s CEO until June 30, 2028, when he will complete 10 years as CEO (see SMA Solar’s Leadership Contract Extended).
