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

Fri Apr 21 14:11:15 PDT 2017

I wonder if an organization like Habitat for Humanity would be interested?

-----Original Message-----
From: "Dan Fink" <danbob88 at gmail.com>
Sent: ‎4/‎21/‎2017 14:15
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Disposal of large scale PV installation?

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 <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 Instructorâ„¢ for:
>>> > ~ PV Installation Professional
>>> > ~ Small Wind Installer
>>> > Executive Director, Buckville Energy
>>> > NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providersâ„¢
>>> > 970.672.4342
>>>
>>
>>
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