Also adding in that sending old equipment that has been in the sun for 20+ years to the 3rd world may not be the best thing for these people. Many solar panels last a very long time until they are removed! Intermittent equipment is the last thing they need ! I have been involved with used equipment enough that I just do not get involved. It is too bad I agree!
> I agree Ray - and with situations like this recent 1+ mW one I got the > call > on, it's the demolition company or in the case of a tractor-trailer wreck, > the salvage company -- see > http://otherpower.com/damaged-pv-module-container-142-kw > > The problem is that salvage and demo companies business is getting rid of > this stuff FAST, not parting it out, as they have no place to store it, > nobody to manage any parting out, And with PV prices so low..... > > The people who need this equipment the most are the least able to afford > it. > > Dan Fink > Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute > IREC Certified Instructor⢠for: > ~ PV Installation Professional > ~ Small Wind Installer > Executive Director, Buckville Energy > NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers⢠> 970.672.4342 > > > > On Thu, Apr 20, 2017 at 12:10 PM, Ray <r...@solarray.com> wrote: > >> I've been involved with re-purposing modules a few times; back at the >> turn >> of the century, the idea of selling modules for $1/ watt even used, was >> exciting. Now a days with some cheap brands going for 50 cents/ watt >> new, >> its getting harder to make it work. Labor, transportation, and storage >> costs quickly eat up the value. >> >> I'm not sure what the answer is moving forward, but it costs money even >> to >> haul them to the dump which is a horrifying thought too. Maybe we could >> offer a "pick your own modules" day, and let folks come and haul off >> modules for their own use: no charge, no warranty, sign this liability >> waiver. >> >> This is something I think about often, because in places like Haiti, >> they >> would love to have our old equipment. Once again though, shipping, >> import >> duties, and getting the BOS equipment can make it easier to just bring >> in >> new equipment. I don't have answers, but its definitely something we >> need >> to be thinking about as an industry. The better quality modules ( like >> Sunpower) might make usable power for another 50 years. >> >> R. Ray Walters >> Chief Technical Officer, RemoteSolar.com >> BS Mech Engineering, 1988 >> Former NABCEP Certified, 2004-2016 >> Licensed Master ELectrician, Colorado303 505-8760 <(303)%20505-8760> >> >> On 4/19/17 10:00 PM, Dan Fink wrote: >> >> I believe PV module recycling is on the Solar ABCs latest "gap" report >> -- >> their wishlist of stuff that needs to be addressed. >> >> Dan Fink >> Professor of Solar Energy Technology, the Ecotech Institute, Aurora, >> Colorado >> Executive Director, Buckville Energy Consulting LLC >> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers >> IREC Certified Instructor for: >> - PV Installation Professional >> - Small Wind Installer >> 970.672.4342 <(970)%20672-4342> >> >> >> On Apr 19, 2017 7:21 PM, "Sindelar Solar" <al...@sindelarsolar.com> >> wrote: >> >>> This is from August 2015: >>> >>> Hello Wrenchers, >>> >>> Our solar non-profit is accepting donations of modules in exchange for >>> a >>> tax deduction off of your taxes. If you have clients wanting to replace >>> old >>> modules, customers wishing to abandon their PV array (for some odd >>> reason), >>> have encountered modules with broken glass or bent frames, we can take >>> them >>> off your hands and give you a tax credit in the amount of the module's >>> retained worth; as determined by you/ the donor. As long as the modules >>> are >>> still producing power, we can find appropriate projects that can >>> utilize >>> them despite their unsavory appearance. Currently we have projects in >>> Rwanda, Ecuador, India, and here in the USA. We donate materials and >>> labor >>> to communities, schools, medical facilities, and tribal nations. Help >>> us >>> help those in need. Don't throw it away, recycle it! >>> >>> Eric Stikes >>> Founding Director >>> Good Sun Solar, A CA non-profit corp. >>> www.goodsun.life >>> (530)798-3738 <%28530%29%20798-3738> >>> >>> And Pvrecycling.com appears to now be a dead link. >>> Allan >>> -- >>> >>> *Allan Sindelar* >>> al...@sindelarsolar.com >>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional >>> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician >>> Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc. >>> *505 780-2738 <%28505%29%20780-2738> cell* >>> >>> On 4/18/2017 11:52 AM, Stephen K wrote: >>> >>> Dan, >>> >>> Just in case, two other possible options for recycling modules (not >>> sure >>> if these folks are still in business or not)... >>> >>> *Imagine Solar* >>> Genevieve Cross >>> gpcr...@aol.com >>> 510-414-8376 <%28510%29%20414-8376> >>> >>> -OR- >>> >>> *Acute Solar Inc* >>> http://www.webuysilicon.com >>> >>> >>> >>> We have also taken modules to *Goodwill Electronics Recycling* in >>> Denver >>> who tell us they dismantle the frames for recycling. Not sure how >>> verifiable that is or if a Goodwill in PA does something similar. >>> >>> >>> Best of luck! >>> >>> Stephen Kane >>> Namaste Solar >>> Boulder, CO >>> >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Apr 17, 2017 at 4:02 PM, Off Grid Solar <offgridso...@sti.net> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> The guy who does buy this kind of gear is John Kimbal at Sun Electric >>>> in >>>> Miami. >>>> https://sunelec.com/ >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> > Greetings Wrenches; >>>> > >>>> > Not the first time I've been asked this question; I can often find >>>> homes >>>> > for smaller installations with various aid groups I've worked with >>>> on >>>> > Indian Reservations, but this one is big, and it's "everything must >>>> go" >>>> > including mods, wiring, racking etc. >>>> > >>>> > It's just over 1mW of Sunpower 327w modules with microinverters >>>> (3200 >>>> > modules), the land has sold and the project (it's in PA) has already >>>> met >>>> > its goal RECs. >>>> > >>>> > Anyone know if anyone buys this sort of equipment, or can it be >>>> recycled? >>>> > The demolition company won't store it, so it'll go to the dump. >>>> > >>>> > Dan Fink >>>> > Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute >>>> > IREC Certified Instructorâ⢠for: >>>> > ~ PV Installation Professional >>>> > ~ Small Wind Installer >>>> > Executive Director, Buckville Energy >>>> > NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providersâ⢠>>>> > 970.672.4342 >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >>> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & >> settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches. >> org/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
