[RE-wrenches] Re-using/recycling old solar panels

Wed Jul 1 10:14:25 PDT 2026

I had roughly a thousand solar modules that were either new unused surplus or had frame mounting hole damage that would not allow them to be used on the racks. They were all 100% functional and safe. They were available from some NEXTERA projects we worked on. I tried donating them organizations like Energy Foot Print but in all cases they were unresponsive. I ultimately gave them away to various people who were building their own solar systems for remote cabins, RV's etc. They all went quickly and are now working in good homes. The only thing I asked was that the recipients come and pick them up, and agree to put them to good use. Generally speaking, older used modules are not going to perform like modern new ones but are still useful and are a good value, particularly for small systems on a tight budget.
Pieter Huebner
Project Manager
Off Grid Enterprises
________________________________
From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf of Jerry Shafer via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 10:56 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarage01 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Re-using/recycling old solar panels

I use CL, 25 to 75 ea. Inverters that work 200 to 250,. With bad modules l take the frames off and they go to a recycling facility that will take them but at a cost, usually 25 ea. Land fills do not except panels any more. I have had better luck selling mono's then poly's, LG, Sharp 175/185's  these go quick, don't even try to sell Trina, BP, Suntec or brands l would never sell new. Had a school that wanted some but l had to pay them a scrap charge so that did not happen.
Fun times

On Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 3:34 PM AE Solar via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
On a similar tip as Ray we have an Army Surplus type store that will take them, and they seem to disappear. But only in quantities associated with residential systems…not in any sort of bulk.

Adam Katzman (he/him)
Autonomous Energies | Owner/Operator
www.AutonomousEnergies.com<http://www.autonomousenergies.com>
(518) 567-1468

On Tue, Jun 30, 2026 at 6:27 PM Ray Walters via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
Here in the Denver area, I've taken them to the Habitat for Humanity
Restore.  When I went in a few weeks later, they had sold them all.

Ray Walters
Remote Solar

On 6/30/2026 3:27 PM, David Coale via RE-wrenches wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I was wondering what people are doing when they have a bunch of old
> solar panels that work, but are less than 200 watts/20 years old, and
> harder to get rid of?
>
> Specifically, in the SF Bay Area, are there any recyclers or
> organizations that will take working panels for reuse or recycling?
>
> Thanks,
>
> David
>
>
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