How To: Cheap or Free Solar Panels
My cousin mentioned to me that her family wanted to install solar panels on their roof. She said it was a huge disappointment because it was far too expensive. It would take twenty years for them to regain the cost in energy savings, even with state solar initiatives! I decided to do some digging and came up with a handy solution to help reduce the cost:
Find used solar panels. Maybe you can get them for free.
It may be the next best option after joining a solar group discount program.
If you’ve ever passed highway construction or remote weather sensors, perhaps you can see where I’m going. Solar panels are ideal for electric equipment without access the power grid. Being in “the field” can be rough on rigid silicon wafers. Any time a solar panel gets chipped or cracked it becomes “unsafe” and must be replaced. Fortunately for us, “unsafe” is relative to rough road-side or wilderness conditions, not a cozy rooftop. Those panels have to go somewhere and they can be expensive to dispose of. Some companies would rather give them away to greenies. Sound too good to be true? Well consider that some of that damage, cracks or chips, also degrade the efficiency of the panels - anywhere from 10%-60%. It’s not going to generate as much energy as a swanky new panel. But if you buy it for a song, or even convince them to give it to you for free, who’s complaining? Subtract 10% off a 22-watt panel and you still get 19 watts. That panel will still reduce your electricity bill.
So where do you find used solar panels?
Step 1: Collect Contact Info.
Next time you spot a panel in “the field”, there should be a sign on or near it with a contractor’s name and contact information. These are the people who provide solar panels for “in field” use. Just be careful: it is dangerous and sometimes illegal to stop on the side of a highway just to jot down a name and number. Instead look for weather sensors or portable electric signs on local roads. If that fails, try scouring your local phone book for contractors who provide equipment for road construction. Make a list of these names, phone numbers and their addresses.
Step 2: Go see them.
Convincing someone to sell/ give you an expensive piece of hardware is less likely to happen over the phone. You’ll want to talk to the mechanics or the maintenance department: gentlemen who are probably very busy. Be friendly and always offer to pay for the damaged panels - they’ll appreciate the offer even if they don’t intend to charge you. If they do want cash, bargain. Keep in mind that they are doing you a favor by selling/giving something to you. Forging a good relationship will help in the long run. They wear out panels regularly; if they give to you once, they’re more likely to do it again. Remember to call back every few weeks to check if they’ve “received” (i.e. broken) any more panels.
See the rest of this post on page 2:
I had read an article about this several years ago and did a lot of leg work on it. I found the contractors who rent/lease them in my state and talked with State/local highway departments. After contacting them and working with them for several months, I netted two very damaged panels. One 50 w panel produced < 0.1W and the other produced ~ 2 watts. Why so few panels available? The contractors were very thrifty, the panels are pretty standard, if one is badly damaged, it is replaced with another salvaged off another unit. May be different in other areas, but not much to be had in Massachusetts.
Just lower the prices of solar systems,and tell people about the advantages of solar power.
Thank you. I have often wonder about the solar panels along the roads and if they ever had to replace them.
[...] where you live and what kinds of panels you buy, “long term” can mean 10-40 years. With cheaper solar panels, obviously, you would regain your investment [...]
though some options are expensive, there are cheaper routes. I know the system I put in my house was bid at over 9 thousand dollars but with what I was able to do, I brought the cost down considerably!
I don’t think your idea is any better than installing new solar panels.
You must have a certified solar panel reseller company (on your utility company approved vendor list) who could sell your the approved solar panels(on your utility company approved list), for any utility company to qualify you for your rebate.
Refurnbish solar panels would not qualify.
Great story, Michelle.
An update, though: Since the bailout bill last month, we finally passed the solar tax credit, which reduces the cost of a solar roof by 33%.
That is the Federal tax credit.
Many states (like CA for instance) also have state reductions and even (here in Northern CA: PG&E) utilities who reduce the amount as well to encourage more people to lower electricity use.
So if you are not a DIYer, check to see what it would cost now, with the investment tax credit in place finally.
[...] shipping company – Nippon Yusen KK – is going to be working with Nippon Oil Corp to develop solar panels capable of partially powering their [...]
I’M A THIRD GENERATION ELECTRICIAN/CONTRACTOR [AC ELECT. 50+ YRS.] AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTRESTED IN NEW TECKNOWLOGY AND ECSPECALLY EFFICANCY. [POWER MANAGEMENT] RECENTLY, ME AND MY BROTHER DID A JOB FOR A COMP. THAT CONVERTS CARS,TRUCKS,EVEN A TRAIN TO L-ION IN MONROVIA,CA.. TODAY WE WIRED AN ARRAY OF APPROX. 72 PANELS ON THE ROOF TO THE INVERTERS,ISOLATION DELTA/WYE TRANS AND TO SOB PANEL. ALSO WIRED WAREHOUSE W/T-5 HO HIGHBAY LITES /1ST TIME AND IMPRESSED. OK NOW THAT IM DONE BABBLING—–IM COMPUTER WEAK, LIKED YOUR SIGHT, AND JUST NOTICED THE TIME. PLEASE SEND ME ANYTHING ON USED PANELS,ARRAYS AND SETUP MONITERING,EDISONKICKS, OTHER TECKS. WHATEVER YOU CAN.THANKS….IM TO OLD TO BE THIS INTERESTED/TO YOUNG NOT TO BE
I payed $49 for the same information at earth4ehergy
to bad I din’t search here ,well I thought i will get more for $49.99