Back to supply chains
Where does SMA Solar Technology AG source its components?
Germany. Supply chain mapped to 33 inputs across 8 countries.
Federal screeningClean
No federal designation found. SMA Solar Technology is not named on any of the 3 federal restricted-party lists screened for this record (DOD Section 1260H, BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List), and Germany is not a covered nation under the FEOC rules. Is SMA Solar Technology AG a Foreign Entity of Concern?
Upstream sourcing exposure
High50% weighted
5 in covered nations - 23 elevated, of 33 nodes.
Where inputs are mined and refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company -- see the federal list screening above.
Refining chokepoint
4 of 6 processing/refining steps in covered nations
Producer1
Component10
Processing / Refining6
Raw Material11
Mine / Extraction5
designated covered nation elevated no known factor not assessed
Loading chain view...
Sourcing Concentration by Country
Covered NationAllied NationOther
Sourcing risk across the graph
Where each input is mined or refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company.
0
Designated (0%)
5
Covered nation (15%)
23
Elevated (70%)
5
No known factor (15%)
Legend
Node Types
Producer
Supplier
Component
Processing / Refining
Raw Material
Mine / Extraction
Logistics
Sourcing risk
Federally designated - named on a restricted-party list
Covered nation - sited in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea
Elevated - documented concentration risk, no federal listing
No known risk factor - not a compliance clearance
Not assessed - no sourcing judgement was made
Relationships
Transformation - manufactures / assembles
Refining - midstream processing (FEOC chokepoint)
Supply handoff - supplies / sources from
Arrows point in the direction material flows (input to product).
Every mapped input in the SMA Solar Technology AG supply chain
33 nodes, grouped by supply-chain tier. Sourcing risk describes where an input is mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for SMA Solar Technology AG.
Producer (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMA Solar Technology AGNiestetal / Kassel, Hesse (world's largest inverter factory, 40 GW capacity, CO2-neutral) | Germany | No known risk factor | German OEM; final inverter assembly domestic. Clean at OEM level; FEOC exposure sits upstream in components/refining. |
Component (10)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiC/IGBT Power ModuleInfineon (Germany/Austria/Malaysia) | Germany | Elevated sourcing risk | Infineon CoolSiC EasyPACK / TRENCHSTOP IGBT modules; core switching stage (ANPC topology). Packaged by allied fab but substrate sourcing mixed. |
| Gate Driver ICsInfineon EiceDRIVER 1ED20 family | Germany | Elevated sourcing risk | 36 gate drivers per Sunny Highpower PEAK3; allied-designed, wafers fabbed in EU/SEA. |
| DC-Link Film Capacitors | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Polypropylene film caps buffer DC bus; film metallization capacity concentrated in Asia. |
| Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | China ~45% of global electrolytic cap volume; high-spec etched anode foil from Japan (Nippon Chemi-Con, Nichicon). |
| Inductors & Line-Frequency Magnetics | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Boost/filter inductors + line reactors; core material either electrical steel or MnZn ferrite, both midstream-concentrated in China. |
| Multilayer PCB / Control Board | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Bare board + control electronics; global PCB fabrication dominated by China/Taiwan. |
| Aluminum Heatsink | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Extruded/finned aluminum for thermal management; aluminum midstream tied to China smelting. |
| Steel/Aluminum Enclosure | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | IP-rated cabinet; steel or aluminum casing. |
| Copper Busbars & Windings | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | High-current copper busbars, magnet wire windings, terminals. |
| DC/AC Connectors & Terminals | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | PV connectors, AC terminals; copper + engineering plastics. |
Processing and refining (6)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Smelter/Refinery4 of world's 5 largest smelters in mainland China | China | Covered nation | Electrolytic refining chokepoint; China ~48-50% of global refined copper capacity. |
| Alumina Refinery + Aluminum SmelterChinese state refineries + smelters | China | Covered nation | Bayer-process alumina + Hall-Heroult smelting; China dominant midstream even on Guinean/Australian bauxite. |
| Silicon Metal / Polysilicon RefinerTongwei / GCL / Xinte (China) | China | Covered nation | Carbothermic silicon-metal smelting + polysilicon; China dominates. Also feeds SiC powder synthesis. |
| SiC Crystal Growth (substrate)Wolfspeed Durham/JP (NC); STMicro/Infineon EU | United States | Elevated sourcing risk | Boule growth + wafering. US/EU allied capacity clean; Chinese SiC crystal capacity flagged where used. |
| Tin Smelter/RefineryYunnan Province (China) vertically integrated | China | Covered nation | China leading refined-tin producer; also refines Myanmar Wa State + Indonesian feedstock. |
| Electrical Steel Millthyssenkrupp (DE); large volumes also China | Germany | Elevated sourcing risk | Grain-oriented steel milling; allied capacity clean, but China is largest global producer. |
Raw material (11)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiC Substrate / WaferWolfspeed (US), STMicro/Infineon (EU) | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | SiC boule growth ~14+ days/boule. Wolfspeed (Durham NC) + EU players clean; but China (SICC/San'an/TankeBlue) rapidly taking >50% share — source-dependent. |
| Silicon IGBT Die (polysilicon-based) | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Silicon wafers ultimately trace to polysilicon; China (Tongwei, GCL, Xinte) dominates polysilicon refining. |
| Refined Copper (cathode) | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | China ~48% of global refined copper output; midstream chokepoint even when ore is allied-mined. |
| Primary Aluminum | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | China dominates alumina refining + primary aluminum smelting. |
| Polypropylene Capacitor Film | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Metallized BOPP dielectric film; specialty film + metallization capacity concentrated in Asia. |
| Etched Aluminum Anode FoilNippon Chemi-Con / Nichicon (Japan) | Japan | Elevated sourcing risk | High-surface-area etched foil from <10 suppliers, mainly Japan + China; Japan = high-spec, allied. |
| Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Core lamination steel; thyssenkrupp (DE) allied source but China largest global producer. |
| MnZn Ferrite Core | China | Covered nation | Soft-magnetic MnZn ferrite (Fe/Mn/Zn oxides); production heavily concentrated in China. |
| Refined Tin / Solder | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Lead-free solder for PCB/semiconductor assembly; China leads refining, feedstock from Myanmar/Indonesia. |
| Gold Bond Wire / Plating | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Bond wire + connector plating; small volume, broadly sourced. |
| Silica / Quartz (SiC & Si precursor) | Mixed | Elevated sourcing risk | Quartz + carbon reduced to silicon metal, the shared precursor for polysilicon and SiC synthesis; China dominates silicon-metal smelting. |
Mine and extraction (5)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper MineCentral Andes porphyry belt (Chile/Peru) | Chile | No known risk factor | Ore extraction allied-clean; Chile+Peru dominate mining but ship concentrate to China for refining. |
| Bauxite MineGuinea (world's largest exporter); also Australia | Guinea | No known risk factor | Bauxite ore extraction; Guinea + Australia allied-mined, but processed largely in China. |
| Quartz / Silica MineHigh-purity quartz (e.g. Spruce Pine, NC) + global sources | United States | No known risk factor | High-purity quartz extraction allied-clean; refined downstream in China. |
| Tin MineBangka-Belitung (Indonesia); Wa State (Myanmar) | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Alluvial + hard-rock tin; heavy ASM/traceability + Myanmar conflict-mineral concerns → review. |
| Iron Ore Mine (steel feed)Pilbara (Australia); Brazil | Australia | No known risk factor | Iron ore for electrical-steel + enclosure steel; allied-mined. |
Material flow (46 relationships)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles SiC/IGBT Power Module (SiC/IGBT power module)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles Gate Driver ICs (gate driver ICs)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles DC-Link Film Capacitors (DC-link film capacitors)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors (aluminum electrolytic capacitors)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles Inductors & Line-Frequency Magnetics (inductors/magnetics)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles Multilayer PCB / Control Board (PCB / control board)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles Aluminum Heatsink (heatsink)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles Steel/Aluminum Enclosure (enclosure)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles Copper Busbars & Windings (copper busbars/windings)
- SMA Solar Technology AG assembles DC/AC Connectors & Terminals (connectors/terminals)
- SiC/IGBT Power Module supplies SiC Substrate / Wafer (SiC substrate)
- SiC/IGBT Power Module supplies Silicon IGBT Die (polysilicon-based) (silicon IGBT die)
- SiC/IGBT Power Module supplies Refined Copper (cathode) (copper leadframe/baseplate)
- SiC/IGBT Power Module supplies Gold Bond Wire / Plating (bond wire)
- SiC/IGBT Power Module supplies Refined Tin / Solder (die-attach solder)
- Gate Driver ICs supplies Silicon IGBT Die (polysilicon-based) (silicon logic die)
- DC-Link Film Capacitors supplies Polypropylene Capacitor Film (PP dielectric film)
- DC-Link Film Capacitors supplies Primary Aluminum (metallization aluminum)
- Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors supplies Etched Aluminum Anode Foil (etched anode foil)
- Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors supplies Primary Aluminum (aluminum foil base)
- Inductors & Line-Frequency Magnetics supplies Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel (lamination steel core)
- Inductors & Line-Frequency Magnetics supplies MnZn Ferrite Core (ferrite core)
- Inductors & Line-Frequency Magnetics supplies Refined Copper (cathode) (magnet wire)
- Multilayer PCB / Control Board supplies Refined Copper (cathode) (copper foil/trace)
- Multilayer PCB / Control Board supplies Refined Tin / Solder (solder)
- Multilayer PCB / Control Board supplies Gold Bond Wire / Plating (ENIG gold plating)
- Aluminum Heatsink supplies Primary Aluminum (aluminum)
- Steel/Aluminum Enclosure supplies Primary Aluminum (aluminum sheet)
- Steel/Aluminum Enclosure sources from Iron Ore Mine (steel feed) (steel)
- Copper Busbars & Windings supplies Refined Copper (cathode) (copper)
- DC/AC Connectors & Terminals supplies Refined Copper (cathode) (copper contacts)
- SiC Substrate / Wafer refines SiC Crystal Growth (substrate) (SiC boule/wafer)
- SiC Crystal Growth (substrate) sources from Silicon Metal / Polysilicon Refiner (SiC powder (Si+C synthesis))
- Silicon IGBT Die (polysilicon-based) refines Silicon Metal / Polysilicon Refiner (polysilicon → wafer)
- Silicon Metal / Polysilicon Refiner refines Silica / Quartz (SiC & Si precursor) (silicon metal from quartz)
- Silica / Quartz (SiC & Si precursor) sources from Quartz / Silica Mine (high-purity quartz)
- Refined Copper (cathode) refines Copper Smelter/Refinery (copper cathode)
- Copper Smelter/Refinery sources from Copper Mine (copper concentrate)
- Primary Aluminum refines Alumina Refinery + Aluminum Smelter (alumina → aluminum)
- Alumina Refinery + Aluminum Smelter sources from Bauxite Mine (bauxite ore)
- Etched Aluminum Anode Foil supplies Primary Aluminum (high-purity aluminum)
- Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel refines Electrical Steel Mill (grain-oriented steel)
- Electrical Steel Mill sources from Iron Ore Mine (steel feed) (iron ore)
- Refined Tin / Solder refines Tin Smelter/Refinery (refined tin)
- Tin Smelter/Refinery sources from Tin Mine (tin concentrate)
- MnZn Ferrite Core sources from Iron Ore Mine (steel feed) (iron oxide feed)
Sources and methodology
Research-based supply-chain map compiled from public sources - not an audited bill of materials. Tiers reflect the standard industry structure for this product. Sourcing risk on a node describes where that input is typically mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for SMA Solar Technology AG, and it is not a screening result for the node itself unless a federal listing is cited against it. Verify against primary documentation before making a compliance determination.
Secondary sources (24) - trade press, analysts, reference works
- eenewseurope.com eenewseurope.com/en/infineon-sma-team-for-sic-solar-inverter-design/
- powerelectronicsnews.com powerelectronicsnews.com/sma-and-infineon-reduce-system-costs-for-inverters/
- en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMA_Solar_Technology
- pcb-hero.com pcb-hero.com/blogs/lickys-column/what-are-the-components-of-solar-inverter-pcb
- samrinc.com samrinc.com/blog/whats-inside-solar-inverter/
- waferpro.com waferpro.com/chinas-dominance-in-the-global-silicon-supply/
- itif.org itif.org/publications/2025/09/08/china-plans-to-dominate-a-key-semiconductor-material/
- digitimes.com digitimes.com/news/a20240415VL201/china-sicc-sic-wafer.html
- faxiangongchang.com faxiangongchang.com/en/reports/china-copper-smelting-2026
- features.csis.org features.csis.org/copper-in-latin-america/
- discoveryalert.com.au discoveryalert.com.au/chinas-strategic-copper-processing-control-2025/
- discoveryalert.com.au discoveryalert.com.au/guinea-bauxite-dominance-china-aluminum-supply-chain/
- mining-technology.com mining-technology.com/features/featurealumina-and-bauxite-a-story-of-supply-4809237/
- forbes.com forbes.com/sites/timtreadgold/2024/12/01/china-and-the-us-compete-for-bauxite-the-ore-of-aluminum/
- dataintelo.com dataintelo.com/report/global-aluminum-electrolytic-capacitor-foil-market
- tti.com tti.com/content/ttiinc/en/resources/marketeye/categories/passives/me-zogbi-20220715.html
- thyssenkrupp-steel.com thyssenkrupp-steel.com/en/products/electrical-steel/electrical-steel-grain-oriented/electrical-steel-grain-oriented.html
- gsmagnetics.com gsmagnetics.com/mn-zn-ferrite-core-toroidal-core
- theoregongroup.com theoregongroup.com/investment-insights/is-there-enough-tin-supply-to-hold-the-tech-revolution-together/
- 33science.com 33science.com/2026/01/22/tin-producing-countries/
- semiconductorx.com semiconductorx.com/fabs-sic-power.php
- eepower.com eepower.com/news/wolfspeed-makes-300mm-silicon-carbide-wafer-breakthrough/
- pv-magazine.com pv-magazine.com/2023/04/19/sma-solar-begins-work-on-20-gw-inverter-factory-in-germany/
- sma.de sma.de/en/company/about-sma
Common questions
- Where does SMA Solar Technology AG source the inputs in this product?
- This map traces 33 inputs across 8 countries, including 11 mines and refiners. It is compiled from public sources and is not an audited bill of materials.
- How much of the SMA Solar Technology AG supply chain sits in a covered nation?
- 5 of 33 mapped inputs are sited in a covered nation (China, Russia, Iran or North Korea) or named on a federal restricted-party list. A further 23 carry elevated sourcing risk without either basis.
- Is SMA Solar Technology AG itself a Foreign Entity of Concern?
- No federal designation found. SMA Solar Technology is not named on any of the 3 federal restricted-party lists screened for this record (DOD Section 1260H, BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List), and Germany is not a covered nation under the FEOC rules. Sourcing risk in this map describes where inputs are mined and refined and is a separate question from the company's own federal screening.