"Operation and maintenance services for PV power plants are an important driver of our growth strategy in the service business," says SMA chief executive Pierre-Pascal Urbon.

"After successfully establishing this business field in North America with 200MW, we are now looking to develop the high-volume European market for SMA through the acquisition of the O&M business from Phoenix Solar."

Phoenix Solar chief executive Bernd Köhler said as his company has a strategic focus on Asia and the US, support for large solar parks in Europe didn't have a strategic perspective any longer.

SMA