[RE-wrenches] Disposal of large scale PV installation?

Fri Apr 21 12:04:54 PDT 2017

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 Instructorâ„¢ for:
> ~ PV Installation Professional
> ~ Small Wind Installer
> Executive Director, Buckville Energy
> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providersâ„¢
> 970.672.4342
>
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 20, 2017 at 12:10 PM, Ray <ray at 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" <Allan at 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*
>>> allan at 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
>>> gpcross at 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 <offgridsolar at 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 InstructorÃ¢â€žÂ¢ for:
>>>> > ~ PV Installation Professional
>>>> > ~ Small Wind Installer
>>>> > Executive Director, Buckville Energy
>>>> > NABCEP Registered Continuing Education ProvidersÃ¢â€žÂ¢
>>>> > 970.672.4342
>>>>
>>>
>>>
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