The first second-hand solar panels in the Netherlands are located in Amsterdam-North
Pepik Henneman’s house is full of second-hand items. He is not new to it. But he does want to be sustainable, with the help of solar panels. Only: you can actually only buy it new and have it installed.
Until now. The ZonNext organization managed to find a pair of good solar panels from a demolished barn. The panels are less than five years old and therefore have at least 20 good years left. Henneman is reaping the benefits of this, now that his house houses the panels.
Old solar panels
Roebyem Anders, one of the initiators of ZonNext and the founders of solar panel pioneer Sungevity, certainly felt like a sucker when she first heard about used solar panels. “I never thought about it, but many people get rid of their solar panels before they reach the end of their lives. For example, because new generations of multi-panel electricity is needed for a heat pump of an electric car.” Now that is not a big problem, because solar panels only recently made massive breakthroughs. “But in the near future you will get a lot more discarded panels. According to estimates, 20 percent of people dispose of their solar panels prematurely.”
The CEO of Groenleven also argues for the reuse of solar panels
And just taking those panels to the landfill is an eternal sin. Although solar panels on paper are neatly recycled, Anders believes that this is disappointing. “In the Netherlands, the panels cannot be dismantled. So they go abroad, where mainly the heavy materials, aluminum and glass, are reused. But all the everyday metals that are in the panels are just in a big heap.”
Revenue model
That is why giving solar panels a second life is much better. Henneman is the first customer, but more will follow. There is only one problem: it is not economical to use second-hand solar panels. The dismantling, transport, inspection and installation costs money. “It is therefore not very attractive from an economic point of view. So it is more for the real lovers of the climate and circular economy.”
Eventually, Anders hopes, there will be a better solution for discarded solar panels. She talks about a project of research agency TNO. They designed one that can recycle a solar panel for 95 percent – including all that factory metal. “That recycling plant can be there within a year of two,” Anders says, “provided there is money.” And that is currently a problem, because the contribution for the removal and recycling of solar panels in the Netherlands is very low: 13 cents per panel. In Belgium, for example, the contribution is 2 euros, and that country does have recycling plants (even if they are not as good as TNO’s design). Anders: “The Netherlands can lead the way in the circular economy, in urban mining, and in the recycling of solar panels. But then you have to choose that.”
Housing associations
Until then, Anders with ZonNext will make so many people happy with second-hand solar panels. Because the business case may not be optimal, you can apply it to many practices. One of the geniuses of ZonNext is to find the right spots. Otherwise an example. “A housing corporation that wants to replace old houses in the short term, but already wants some sustainable electricity for the time being. An old solar panel can offer a solution in those kinds of places.”
It turns out to be customization, finding the right premises for a used solar panel. But now that the first generation of panels are reaching the end of their lifespan, the supply is increasing. Let’s just hope there is a demand for it.