Siemens – Lightsource bp: agreement on a 1 GW solar inverter

Siemens has committed to supplying Lightsource bp with solar inverter stations for several projects in the U.S., marking their leadership in the growth of the large-scale solar sector.

Share:

Siemens will provide solar inverter stations for several Lightsource bp projects in the United States. This agreement demonstrates leadership in the growth of the U.S. solar industry on a large scale. Lightsource bp recently signed a master volume agreement (VFA) with Siemens to supply solar inverter stations for a series of projects in the Midwest and Southeast United States.

Essential equipment for a solar energy system

Under the agreement, Lightsource bp will use more than 850 MW of Siemens inverters, with an option to add another 200 MW, over the next two years as part of its renewable project development pipeline. For most projects, Siemens will provide central inverter stations rated between 4.3 MW and 4.7 MW, including gas-insulated switchgear, step-up transformers and auxiliary power stations. Siemens factory certified service personnel will provide commissioning and installation support for the projects.

Central inverter stations are essential equipment in a solar energy system. They convert direct current (DC), which is what a solar panel generates, into alternating current (AC), which the power grid uses. Inverters also monitor critical operational data such as power production. Incorporating them into renewable energy projects allows for reliable and efficient delivery of clean energy to consumers, while improving the performance and management of the renewable energy system.

Growth of the US solar sector

“The U.S. solar industry is poised for historic growth, with the Inflation Reduction Act offering fair winds to provide 30% of our country’s electricity by 2030,” said Kevin Smith, CEO of the Americas for Lightsource bp. Since 2019, the Lightsource bp team has commissioned or initiated construction of 3.2 gigawatts of U.S. solar projects in 11 states, with capital costs of nearly $4 billion. Collectively, these projects can generate enough electricity to power 550,000 homes and reduce more than 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

By providing solar inverter stations for these projects, Siemens is demonstrating its commitment to the development of renewable energy projects and its leadership in the growth of the large-scale U.S. solar industry.

Facing chronic power outages, South African households are increasingly turning to solar self-generation, jeopardizing Eskom's pricing model and widening energy-access inequalities between affluent neighborhoods and disadvantaged areas.
Sol Systems has secured a $675mn credit facility to accelerate the development of 500 MW of solar and storage projects in Illinois, Ohio and Texas, backed by an international banking consortium.
The rapid rise of solar energy is disrupting Pakistan’s electricity sector, forcing the government to revise its tariff policy and introduce new taxes on solar panel imports.
Sabanci Renewables announces the acquisition of the Texan solar project Pepper from OCI Energy, strengthening its US portfolio to 660 MW and paving the way for an increase to 3 GW by 2030.
The results of recent Polish auctions reveal a predominance of photovoltaic solar, with 178 projects selected and a total capacity of 1.67 GW, while other segments found no takers.
The National Solar Energy Federation, launched on 21 June and formalised on 14 July, brings together installers, equipment suppliers and financiers to defend photovoltaics against political criticism as Paris prepares a new energy roadmap.
A $60mn subordinated loan will speed delivery of equipment for a 223 MWp solar-storage plant serving the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex, deepening the financial partnership between CrossBoundary Energy and Standard Bank South Africa.
New York developer DESRI, together with utility El Paso Electric, starts construction of the 150 MWac Santa Teresa solar complex and its 600 MWh storage system, financed by an international banking consortium.
Renewable developer Geronimo Power begins construction of the 250 MW Portage Solar park, expected to generate more than $100 mn in cumulative economic impact in Wisconsin, according to a news release issued on July 15 by PR Newswire.
African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) provides a liquidity guarantee to the Sokodé solar project, facilitating private financing for a 62 MW plant dedicated to Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo.
Three major players commit to developing five solar plants and two wind farms, with commissioning scheduled between 2027 and 2028 as part of Saudi Arabia’s national programme.
SAEL Industries will invest $954mn in a solar factory in Greater Noida, boosting Indian manufacturing capacity and supporting the national strategy to localise photovoltaic component production.
Global photovoltaic inverter shipments increased by 10% in 2024, driven by the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for nearly seven out of ten shipments, while China consolidates its influence on the sector.
Arctech Brazil has received FINAME certification from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development, making financing more accessible for its solar trackers and consolidating its role in the Latin American solar market.
Solargik strengthens its presence in Italy with 85 MW of photovoltaic projects, including partnerships with Revalue and Free Ingegneria, to deploy systems on steep and agricultural land previously considered unexploitable.
EDF power solutions commissions two new photovoltaic plants in Moselle, together representing a capacity of 72 MWp, capable of annually supplying electricity equivalent to 36,000 inhabitants, or 30% of the population of Metz.
Solar energy reached a record share of 22.1% in the European electricity mix in June 2025, becoming for the first time the main source of electricity in the European Union, according to a report by think tank Ember.
Abraxas Power Corp. receives unprecedented authorisation from Maldivian authorities to develop a 100 MW solar project within a new special economic zone, targeting energy security and national climate objectives.
GreenYellow and Meaders Feeds Ltd finalise a second 1.8 MWp solar project under the Carbon Neutral Industrial Sector Scheme aimed at decarbonising the Mauritian industrial sector.
The Lime Kiln project, developed by Chaberton Energy and Pivot Energy, will provide renewable energy to 500 homes and businesses in Maryland, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.