SMA Solar Technology AG

Lobbying Transparency and Governance

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Direct Lobbying Transparency
Overall Assessment Comment Score
Comprehensive SMA Solar Technology AG provides a highly detailed and transparent picture of its climate-policy lobbying. It names multiple, identifiable measures it has engaged on, including the EU’s “RePowerEU” package, the “German Photovoltaik Strategy” linked to forthcoming amendments of the German Climate Protection Law, and the U.S. “Inflation Reduction Act,” as well as broader EU climate-transition planning. The company also spells out the methods and audiences of its advocacy, citing the use of “Position Paper,” “Meeting with the Parliament,” “support of campaigns,” ministerial workshops, keynote speeches, and direct “communication with Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Simson,” together with meetings at the German Chancellor’s Office, the German Energy Agency, members of the Bundestag, and the Ministry of Energy. Finally, it is explicit about the precise policy changes it seeks, backing “higher renewable targets in order to diversify EU energy supply,” a revenue cap of “180 €/MWh for power producers,” elements of a “Green Deal Industrial Plan for Europe,” re-industrialisation of solar value chains, domestic-content rules under the IRA and “higher proportion of cyber resilient shares in the prospect tenders,” all of which it states are aligned with the Paris Agreement. This combination of clearly identified policies, well-described lobbying channels and named policy outcomes demonstrates a comprehensive level of transparency in the company’s climate-related lobbying disclosures. 4
Lobbying Governance
Overall Assessment Comment Score
Moderate SMA Solar Technology AG reports that “SMA has established several collaboration councils to coordinate the operational engagement activities,” bringing “public affairs and sustainability” into constant dialogue so that “all activities are aligned with sustainability management and the process to achieve our climate change strategy.” It also affirms a “public commitment or position statement to conduct your engagement activities in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement,” signaling a formal pledge to align its advocacy with these objectives. While this structure suggests a formal mechanism to guide external policy engagement in line with climate goals, the company does not disclose a specific individual or committee responsible for overseeing lobbying alignment, lacks detail on a formal monitoring or review process for direct and indirect lobbying, and offers no evidence of targeted measures to address potential misalignment within trade associations. We found no evidence of a dedicated audit, policy sign-off procedure, or board-level oversight of climate-related lobbying activities. 2