Thursday, March 21, 2024

Who Buys Used Solar Panels

Compare Solar Energy Plans

Dirt Cheap Used Solar Panels: 250W for $50 Shipping

These are dedicated solar deals offered by some electricity retailers that usually feature a higher feed-in tariff than standard plans in market. Always check the fine print before signing up.

Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.

Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.

Create New Revenue Streams

And Do Something Great for Others

In the year 2020, the USA is scheduled to decommission more than 1 GW of aged or broken solar panels. Most need to be recycled and mined for their valuable components. Approximately 1/3 of these decommissioned solar panels can be refurbished and put back into service. It is always better to reuse than to recycle. Salvageable solar panels in working condition do have a value. The value of these solar panels can vary greatly depending on the age, condition and verifiable power generation output.

Used/refurbished solar panels can power offgrid solar water pumps, providing clean drinking water to Native American communities in the USA as well as remote areas in Latin America, Africa, Asia and more. Second life solar panels can provide a low-cost option to many parts of the world that have unreliable sources of energy. Refurbished/certified solar panels bring much needed energy to power orphanages, rural clinics, schools, and hospitals that otherwise would have no electricity or would depend on perhaps an unreliable and polluting diesel energy source.

We can pay it forward, from our generosity by donating usable equipment. Donating your solar panels is a socially responsible way to keep unwanted solar panels out of landfills and to Recycle Solar for Good

Faqs On Selling Solar Panels:

What does it take to sell solar panels?

To sell solar equipment, you just need to be prepared and understand the why, how, and where. Heres a quick recap:

Why bother?

  • Solar is leading new electric capacity additions.
  • Its now a 50-state market.
  • How to start?

  • Learn what makes people buy solar panels.
  • Get certified and register your business.
  • Know how many panels your customer will need.
  • Figure out where youll get supplies.
  • Where to sell?

    You May Like: Can I Use Pine Sol On Wood

    How To Get Solar Panels For Free

    Thats right, there is a way you can get solar panels for free! I know someone who did it and so can you. Heres how its done

    Solar panels are used everywhere these days. They are often used by construction crews and traffic systems and these are where we are going to focus because they quite often have contracts with the solar panel providers. Whenever a solar panel becomes cracked or damaged, they are replaced under contract, even when they are still serviceable.

    The solar panel provider ends up with a whole load of damaged but working solar panels. They cant sell them so they usually have to pay to have them disposed of. What you need to do is find the contact details for the solar panel providers and give them a call to see if they have any damaged but functioning solar panels you can take off their hands.

    The person I know who did this got around $800 of working solar panels for free, just for a bit of detective work. He saw a solar panel on a road sign and noticed the sign had a sticker with a phone number on it to report a problem. He simply phoned the number and asked for the solar panel providers details and gave them a call. A few phone calls later and a trip to their facility and he had a load of free solar panels.

    Just a little thinking outside the box can save you a huge amount of money. Give it a try, all you have to waste is a little time and a phone call.

    Where Can You Buy Used Solar Panels In Australia

    Buying Solar Panels

    Presuming youve decided to take the second-hand route, lets talk about where to buy used solar panels.

    Second hand solar panels dont necessarily have a specific marketplace of their own but can be found at various dealerships and classified ad sites across Australia. Lets take a look at some of the best places to locate used solar panels for sale.

    • Machines4U.com.au

    Machines4U is a website that lets people sell used machinery, including second hand solar panels in Australia at reasonable prices. You can find both complete panels and specific parts, such as batteries.

    • SolarOnline.com.au

    Solar Online is a solar panel dealership that mostly sells new panels, but will occasionally offer some used goods on their website. Like Machines4U, they also sell second-hand parts such as chargers, batteries, etc.

    • GumTree.com.au

    We also found some second hand solar panels over at GumTree. To test the site, we searched for used solar panels in Brisbane and had numerous good hits. Second hand solar panels in Adelaide, as well as second hand solar panels in Perth, should also be easy to find. You can search for specific parts and prices are often negotiable.

    You May Like: Can Solar Panels Be Turned Off

    Solar Panels Are A Pain To Recycle These Companies Are Trying To Fix That

    A new plant in France aims to extract silver from old solar panels to make recycling them worth the trouble.

    Millions of solar panels have been installed in the last two decadesand since they typically last between 25 and 30 years, many will soon be ready for retirement and probably headed to a landfill. But new efforts to recycle these panels could reduce both the amount of waste and the new material that needs to be mined.

    Only about 10% of panels in the US are recycledit isnt mandated by federal regulations, and recycling the devices is currently much more expensive than just discarding them. But the materials in solar panels coming offline each year could be worth an estimated $2 billion by 2050. New efforts, including one approach from a French startup called ROSI, are trying to recapture these valuable materials, especially silver and silicon, to make recycling the panels more financially viable.

    One Or Two Used Panels Might Work But Choose Them Carefully

    • Look for a model without any visual signs of damage.
    • Check the power output of a panel with a voltmeter and compare it to its initial rated output to see the difference.
    • Burned out bypass diodes are common among old solar panels and can be replaced. You can get a panel with dead diodes for a really low price, purchase new ones and make yourself a nice module.
    • Check the connections of solar panels as they often pose a problem. In some cases, broken connections can be repaired with solder or conductive epoxy.
    • Don’t be too afraid of the brownish hues of old solar panels it often doesn’t say anything about their performance. If the appearance of panels isn’t a dealbreaker for you, you can get decent panels for a very low price.
    • Solar panel 25+ year
    • Charge controller 10-15 years on average
    • Deep-cycle battery 2-10 years, highly depends on the type of battery and maintenance.

    Recommended Reading: How Many Solar Panels For 30 Amps

    Check The Sellers Credibility

    To reduce the risk of a bad purchase, you should only buy from a seller with an established credibility as a repairer. Alternatively, the seller should be able to guarantee the product is on par with generally accepted safety parameters, such as the IEC 61730 international standard. The standard indicates that the product has been tested for general inspection, electrical shock hazard, fire hazard, mechanical stress and environmental stress.

    The seller would have already carried out quality control tests, measure amp and voltage performance. The results would be documented in writing.

    Some sellers can also verify whether the manufacturers warranty will transfer with the purchase. If the manufacturers warranty no longer applies, some sellers can offer a third party warranty.

    Is Buying Used Solar Panels Worth It

    Is Buying USED Solar Panels a Good Idea?

    Lets face it. A brand new solar power system is expensive. No doubt the latest photovoltaic technology can generate twice the power of used ones.

    However, new models naturally come with a price tag at least double the cost of used ones. Even with the reducing cost of new solar panels each year, it still cant beat that of used panels.

    The efficiency rate of a used solar panel is definitely lower than a new one. The reduced efficiency is caused by impurities creeping into the crystals of the photovoltaic material. Some of the electrons generated are attracted to these impurities instead of flowing into the electrical circuit.

    A solar panel loses between 0.5 and 0.8 percent efficiency per year. Sooner or later, the panel will become completely dysfunctional. However, even with a 0.5 percent efficiency loss per year, a solar panel is still operating at 86 percent after 30 years.

    For the thrift-seeker, used solar panels are a lifesaver. Some people even buy enough used panels to cover their roofs. This makes sense when there is an existing solar system and youre just switching out the panels on your own.

    The cost of the panels constitutes a relatively small part of the entire solar system installation. According to NREL, solar companies are charging around$2.60 per watt to install rooftop solar systems. About 63 to 91 cents of that go to making and delivering the panels.

    Photo by Vivint Solar on Unsplash

    Also Check: Does It Matter If Solar Panels Are Vertical Or Horizontal

    Buying Local Vs Buying From Overseas

    I recommend buying used solar panels from local sellers whenever possible to make transactions easier. Go for foreign sellers only if the specific solar panels you need are not available locally.

    There are several other reasons why you should consider buying used solar panels locally, such as:

    • When you buy locally, youre supporting local sellers/businesses.

    • Its easier to inspect the goods if you buy from a local seller.

    • Its easier to take a dispute to court if your seller scams you.

    • You reduce your risks of getting scammed.

    • Buying local is better for the environment as you dont need to deal with long-distance shipping.

    Its okay to buy from overseas if you cant find the solar panels you need locally.

    You can buy used solar panels from Alibaba, the biggest e-commerce company in China. China is known for its cheap and competitive pricing, which applies to new goods and used ones. However, the downside of using Alibaba is looking for a seller whos willing to sell you in smaller quantities.

    If youre not willing to go through the hassle, join solar panels-focused Facebook groups or online yard sale groups, like the Keremeos and Area Online Yard Sale. There you can find used 65x39x1.75 250-watt 37-volt 8.7amp solar panels for $200 each, with a 3-year warranty from British Columbia.

    Thats not a bad price considering that two pieces of Rich Solar 200-Watt Solar Panel available on Amazon.com can easily cost around $170.

    The Solar Industry Is Still Evolving And Expanding Rapidly

    This means that new panel technologies are constantly being implemented and sold at rapidly falling prices. Even a used panel in good condition from a few years ago will have outdated photovoltaic technology, and will produce electricity less efficiently than a new panel. For this reason, you end up saving more money over time by opting to install newer, more efficient panels as opposed to paying less upfront for an outdated solar cell model.

    Recommended Reading: What Is The Average Cost Of A Home Solar System

    Loose Connections With Solar Cells

    Loose Connections with Solar Cells

    Sometimes the connection between the cells in the solar panel become loose as a result of the time they spend outside. In serious cases, the solar panels with loose connections will not produce energy from sunlight at all.

    These loose connections will affect the performance of the solar panels, something which is not a problem in new solar panels.

    If you can get these loose connections fixed, you can probably get the panels at a pretty great discount. To get them fixed though, youll need an electrical soldering tool, a steady hand, and solid background in electronic equipment.

    Do Used Solar Panels Qualify For Solar Rabetes

    Things To Consider Before Buying Rooftop Solar Panels For ...

    Unfortunately, under current Australian legislation, there is no rebate for second hand solar panels. You are eligible for rebates only if the solar panel is newly bought and installed for the first time, meaning you cant claim any credit for second installations.

    The remaining terms of eligibility, as per the Australian Clean Energy Regulator, are as follows:

    • The system must be installed no more than 12 months before the introduction of Small-Scale Technology Certificates
    • The panels and the inverter are approved by the Clean Energy Council
    • The product meets Australian and New Zealand standards
    • You use a CEC-accredited installer and meet the CEC installation guidelines
    • You comply with all local, state, territory, and federal requirements
    • Your product of choice is classified as small-scale and contains:
    • A solar panel system with a capacity of no more than 100kW, and total annual electricity output of less than 250MWh
    • A wind system with a capacity of no more than 10kW, and total annual electricity output of less than 25MWh, or
    • A hydro system with a capacity of no more than 6.4kW, and total annual electricity output of less than 25MWh.

    If your system has a capacity larger than what is specified here, it is classified as a power station and will have to be accredited as such. When the accreditation goes through, you can apply for large-scale generation unit certificates and concessions.

    Read Also: Can I Get Solar Panels On My House

    Option : Have The Council Take Them

    If you are very lucky your local Council may be willing to take solar panels off your hands as part of a hard rubbish collection. If its for a residence and not a business, the Adelaide City Council will do this in the heart of Adelaide. But this is unusual. Many local councils wont pick up electronic waste of any kind, so check first.

    New Vs Used Solar Panels

    In terms of sheer performance, older solar panel models will always compare unfavourably, regardless of how preserved they are, due to advances in efficiency and applied technology. Lets take a look at some of the key aspects of new and used solar panels to illustrate the bigger picture.

    New Panel
    Depends on how long it was used
    Damages If any, covered by warranty Not covered by warranty
    20% Should remain stable, in the absence of damaged cells

    One of the crucial downsides of used solar panels is that in the event that any damages occur, whether its during transport, installation, or due to bad weather, you cant call the company and ask for repairs as part of your warranty package. Just imagine the relief youd feel if this was something you could rely on! If the product was exposed to any tangible damages in the past, including micro-cracking in the cells, the efficiency rate will slowly dwindle and you may not get a good return on your investment. In addition, you can never be really sure how long the panel was in use or how well it was maintained by the previous owner, which might significantly shorten its lifespan.

    Buying a house with solar panels has become a relatively common situation nowadays. While they certainly add value and increase the market price of the house, note that these systems are also considered used, so make sure to have them examined by professionals.

    Recommended Reading: What To Wash Solar Panels With

    How To Start Selling Solar Panels

    If those reasons have you wondering how to get started, here are five steps to take right away.

    1. Learn what makes people buy solar panels

    When it comes to buying solar panels, there are a few key motivators for buyers. The first is the cost savings in terms of reduced electricity bills.

    The average electric bill in the U.S. is between $100 to $200 per month so thats a lot of savings. And as solar prices fall, more and more consumers are taking the plunge.

    Another big motivator is government incentives and subsidies. As of now, the federal solar tax credit is worth 26% of the cost of solar installation, including equipment and labor. So, based on the current average cost of panels, a typical homeowner can expect a tax credit of between $4,000 and $6,000.

    Plus, there are 10 states that offer state solar tax incentives that consumers can use besides the federal tax credit, providing an additional $1,000 to $6,000 in savings. As of now, these states are Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, and Utah.

    2. Decide who youll be selling to

    You have to decide if you want to sell to commercial businesses or residential homeowners.

    Here are a few things to consider:

  • Property ownership: There are some complexities with commercial property ownership that dont exist in the residential market. From least to most complex, these include owner-occupied buildings, buildings with a single tenant, and multi-tenant buildings.
  • Popular Articles
    Related news