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 wish I could have solar power or wind power for my home. Not just for my self, but to even give to others. And today jobs are hard to keep and money runs short. Most people cant afford to buy of install green energy.
Does anyone know where we can get free solar panels from a company willing to showcase their products in a college/school community?
Hey guys, Could you tell me where i can get the free panels, because i have seach all around i could not get it.
I think cheap renewable energy should be disseminated climate change vulnerables in the thirdworld such as Bangladesh. We have chronic shortage of electricity among 65% rural farmers. most of them are victim of some kind of disaster based on geographical location. How can you help us in promoting cheap solar energy to eliminte sin of darkness from poor in Bangladesh.
I think a little collaboration to HRD and technical support would be good enough
Thank you for positive response.
Dr. Mahbub Hasan
Head, centre for water and Environment
BUP, Dhaka
Tel: 88028853958
cell:801925157199
Thank you for the article it has given me some ideas to try following up. With the space I have for solar panels I don’t care if they put out 10% if they are really cheap!
Cheers and well done Michelle
i need solar panels at very cheap price that can be useful for people living in pakistan where electric power is in shortage send me response through ,mail and help people in hot summer you can send used but repairable ones free of cost as donation contact me at tayyab.urrehman@yahoo.com plz
Learn to build a solar water pumps
How about today? Where are the least expensive solar panels?
Why is the solar power industry a fraud? Without government tax credits, the whole thing collapses.
Because it doesn’t make sense to pay $.20 a kilowatt for solar when you can buy $.15 grid power.
I have the technical ability to install solar power, but all I see are government style prices.
I used the plans at http://ambigrid-review.blogspot.com to build my own solar panels and solar water heater for under $80. I am getting enough energy to power half of my 1500+ Square Foot home in Florida!
Is it worth installing Solar Panels on your Roof? Now you can decide for yourself.
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Installing solar panels requires a big initial investment. Before you make this investment you should check to see if the money you will save by installing solar panels will pay for this investment. This website “www.MySolar2020.com ” provides you an opportunity to examine how much money you will actually save if you install solar panels.
To calculate your savings, the website considers the area (square feet) you currently have available to install solar panels. It looks at the available sunlight and its intensity in your state each month of the year. Based on this data the website (www.MySolar2020.com) estimates how much energy your solar panels will generate. It compares that with how much energy (kWh) you currently consume. You can find average energy (kWh) usage from your monthly utility bill. This data along with the savings is presented in a simple report on the website.