Press Release – SMA Australia SMA Sponsors Solar Decathlon Team from Victoria University, New Zealand, in US competition Washington DC, October 1st, 2011 – The First Light team is the first ever finalist from the Southern Hemisphere to participate in the prestigious international competition and they placed an impressive third. The Solar Decathlon challenges university teams from around the world to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. SMA’s Sunny Boy 6000US is central to the operation of the First Light house. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition has taken place in Washington DC every two years since 2002, showcasing a working display of energy innovation in action. It is one of the most ambitious and inspiring solar events in the U.S. Through a series of 10 contests, university teams must demonstrate inventive clean-energy solutions by building solar pv-powered houses that feature cost-effective, energy-efficient construction and incorporate energy-saving appliances and renewable energy systems. The house was on display at Wellington’s waterfront and opened up for tours during May of this year. The practice run for the US was a huge success attracting over 20,000 people during the 18 day opening period. The First Light house was reassembled at West Potomac Park, Washington, and the team received a lot of positive feedback for this same home in the US. The First Light house came second in the architecture category and first in the engineering category. The team’s highest score came in the energy balance contest where they were tied for first place. A team receives full points for producing at least as much energy as its house needs, achieving a net energy consumption of zero during the contest. “SMA is helping us to harness the suns energy while we are competing in the US. Hopefully we can do them and the uni proud,” said Ben Jagersma, the student team leader for technologies. The team were announced as third place finishers today following the revelation that they had placed third in the market appeal category. “Thank you to everyone who has had a part in this along the way. We have been overwhelmed by the support of people here in the US and the tremendous support from back home,” said Sophie Prebble, First Light communications officer. With the competition over there is one more day for the public to come through and then deconstruction begins. The house will then be packaged up and sent back to New Zealand to its new owner. About SMA SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) is the global market leader for solar inverters, the leading supplier of transformers and chokes, and a provider of innovative energy supply solutions for mass transit and main-line rail transportation. The SMA Group generated sales of €1.9 billion in 2010. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented in 19 countries on four different continents. The Group employs a staff of over 5,300 worldwide, plus a varying number of temporary employees. The multi award-winning product range covers solar inverters for roof systems, major solar projects and off-grid systems, enabling SMA to provide a technically optimised inverter solution for all size categories and system types. Its range of services is complemented by a worldwide service network. The highly flexible manufacturing plants for solar inverters in Germany and North America have a capacity of approximately 11.5 GW a year. The SMA Group also operates a manufacturing plant for electromagnetic core components in Poland. Since 2008, SMA has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer and achieved first place in 2011 in the federal “Great Place to Work” competition. About SMA Australia SMA Australia Pty. Ltd. is one of 17 world-wide subsidiaries of parent company SMA Solar Technology AG. SMA Australia supplies photovoltaic inverters to commercial and residential sectors, partnering with a large distribution network covering Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. SMA’s local office is based in Sydney, allowing the Australian team to provide service, sales and technical support to the region. Prominent solar installations within Australia containing SMA solar inverters include the Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Olympic Park, Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour and The Adelaide Show grounds. SMA Australia Pty Ltd Press contact: Anna Brazil Marketing Communications Manager Phone +61 2 9491 4200 Fax +61 2 9491 4290 Anna.Brazil@SMA-Australia.com.au   Disclaimer: This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase, hold, or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements which do not describe facts regarding the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimates, and forecasts that the management of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or Company) has available at this time. Forward-looking statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. By nature, forward-looking statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those that SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The Company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.