RECYCLING: A Solar Panel’s Final Journey

For many years people have been asking Same Sun about what we do with damaged modules or what happens to modules once they have completed their lifecycle. This has always been a concern for us but in our fourteen years there were so few modules that we dealt with that had been damaged or broken in any way that the issue was not pressing. And as solar panels typically last decades, we have yet to see them end their usefulness.

Modules were accumulated, stacked and shrink wrapped.

In our years of business we have installed tens of thousands of solar modules, and yet we only had 96 to recycle.  A number were unusable for a variety of reasons, e.g. scratched/damaged during delivery or installation, or subject to vandalism/other accidental damage after installation.  Most of the modules were within specs of the original performance warranties, but the solar client decided to have their existing array replaced, either because of new construction or they wanted a newer, higher-wattage system; in most of these cases they asked us to recycle their old modules.    

We knew our modules were never going to end up in a landfill. We have been paying for their storage until we could find our best option. We not only wanted to make sure these modules did not end up in a dump, but we also wanted all the usable material to be recycled. We researched a few options and chose Solar Panel Recycling in North Carolina.

Recycled modules are broken down into their component elements.

Solar Panel Recycling can recycle nearly 100% of silicon mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline solar modules, which make up the majority of the modules in the US recycling stream. Thin-film and cadmium telluride modules are the second most common, but many solar recycling companies will not process modules containing hazardous materials such as cadmium telluride or lead. Most states don’t have a waste classification for solar modules, which means too many modules end up in landfills. However, SPR will take solar modules of any type and condition, and they are committed to safely recovering and recycling even hazardous materials, in addition to glass, aluminum, silicon, metals, and plastics.

It has been a laborious and somewhat costly job for Same Sun to meet the specifics of shipping the modules to SPR but worth it to make the smallest environmental impact.

Pick-Up by Solar Panel Recycling

By going solar, we and our clients have chosen to produce clean renewable energy. Recycling damaged modules or the modules that soon will be at the end of their lives, while reclaiming useful materials and safely disposing of hazardous ones, is the final step in our ongoing quest to be Part of the Solution.

Questions? Contact Us to learn more.

Is your home ready for an EV Charging Station?

It’s a wonderful thing that you have purchased an Electric Vehicle.   No gas, no oil, no emissions and super fun to drive!

Your vehicle probably came with a charger that can be plugged into a standard outlet. This is known as Level I charging, and while no special equipment is needed – it results in only 6 miles per hour of charge.  Even if your vehicle is plugged in for 12 hours overnight, you’ll only get 72 miles.  While that might be ok for local driving, most EV owners want to take advantage of the maximum range of their cars, which these days are usually between 250 and 300 miles.  That’s why you’ll want a Level II charger installed.

That’s where your home’s EV Readiness comes in.  You’ll need a space to mount the charger close to where you will park the vehicle.  Most importantly, your home’s electrical service will have to be evaluated to make sure there that there is adequate space in your main electrical panel to connect an EV Charger. 

Your electrical panel is made up of a number of circuits, each with a breaker to control the flow of electricity.   The breakers are sized according to how much amperage it can handle.   The size, or capacity, of the breaker that will control the charger will dictate how quickly you can charge your vehicle.  Here’s a summary of how many miles per hour you can expect with different sizes of breakers:

Breaker SizeMiles per Hour Charged
20 Amps12
30 Amps18
40 Amps25
50 Amps30
60 Amps36
70 or 80 Amps37

Most of our clients will find the 40 Amp breaker sufficient.  Even if the vehicle is nearly empty when arriving home. a typical overnight charge of ten hours, e.g. 9 PM to 7 AM, should allow for a full, or nearly full, charge in the morning. 50 AMPs, if the electrical panel can accommodate, is optimal at 30 miles per hour in charging.

The total capacity of the main electrical panel is also a factor EV Readiness. You can’t install a large breaker if there is not room for it.   A number of our clients have only 100 AMP services, making it sometimes challenging to accommodate any charger beyond a simple wall outlet.  Also, many of our clients who are adding EVs are also adding heat pumps and/or electrically powered domestic hot water that require large breaker sizes. For these clients an upgrade to a 200 AMP service or more will be necessary.

Same Sun of Vermont installs EV chargers and performs system upgrades when necessary or desirable. Contact us to discuss your home’s EV Readiness, or to schedule an EV Charger installation.

The Eagle Has Landed

Announcing the 580-watt Eagle 72 G6B Bifacial solar module.  Manufactured by Jinko Solar, one of the largest Tier One companies. These durable industrial-grade modules are built to withstand harsh weather conditions. They are now available for residential and small commercial solar ground arrays. 

Here’s why we’re excited:       

  • More Power with Fewer Modules – 580 watts per module is a big leap, as prior to this our best option for solar ground arrays maxed out at 485 watts per module.  This means that an average array consisting of 24 485’s can be built with only 20 modules, taking up less yard space and with a lower height;
  • Power From Both Sides – The bifacial technology harnesses reflected light from the ground, snow or other surfaces. This increases energy generation; 
  • Made in the USA – Same Sun insists on American-made components but it hasn’t always been easy, or even possible.  Eagle modules are now being manufactured domestically;
  • 30-Year Performance Guarantee – These modules are warrantied to be at least 87.4% effective at the end of 30 years.

The high wattage modules makes solar ground arrays efficient to install, and we are offering our lowest prices ever for these.

Contact Us today to learn more!

Our Thoughts on Battery Backup

Many people, both existing and prospective customers, have reached out to Same Sun and asked us to install battery backup storage for their solar arrays. While the technology is exciting; everyone wants their solar array to provide power in the dark or during a power outage, we do not recommend this course of action.

Here are a few of the reasons:

  • We Do Not Think the Expense is Justifiable.  Unlike solar, there will never be a return on investment for battery backup. To do it right and have sustained power during an extended winter outage the cost is $25,000 – $35,000.
  • It is Not Environmentally Friendly.  Unlike batteries that power your vehicle thus replacing gas and oil the precious commodities such as graphite, lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt will only be used on rare occasions for convenience. Additionally, moving power back and forth from solar or the grid to the battery backup creates a loss of kWhs.
  • It is Not Reliable.  We have installed several battery backup systems, including right here in our own office to test the technology.  In our experience, we have been called upon to service 60 – 70% of these projects. We do not believe this is viable.
  • It May Not be Safe. We have concerns that our state is relying on individual manufacturers’ safety codes. Vermont does not inspect the installs.
  • Battery Lease Programs Disqualify You for Maximizing Savings.  If you are a GMP customer that is leasing your battery or part of their program that uses the battery to mitigate peak demand, you are not allowed to switch to Rate 11, which is the most advantageous billing rate for a solar customer.  See our previously published blog post about Rate 11 here. Also, GMP will be accessing your battery at peak demand times, possibly having it low or drained when you need the power due to an outage.
  • Today’s Batteries May Soon be Obsolete. Soon, there will be a bidirectional charger for all vehicles that will allow you to use your Electric Vehicle as battery backup for your home. The resources used to make car batteries are justifiable because driving an EV directly reduces oil and gasoline production, and lowers emissions.

While we wish that there was an inexpensive environmentally friendly and reliable battery back-up storage – this is not our experience.  If you have frequent power outages or this is a concern for you, we recommend that you have your essential loads placed into a subpanel and then get a conventional generator sized proportionately.

Please Contact Us with any questions.

Should I Wait?

by Philip Allen

Sometimes, Marlene and I are asked if we regret going solar 17 years ago due to the fact that the modules have improved dramatically in both wattage and efficiency. Our original Evergreen Solar modules on our garage roof were made in Massachusetts and are 180 watts and 15% efficient.

Evergreen is long out of business, and if we were to do the roof now, we would use Silfab 410-watt modules at 23% efficiency. So, yes, a new array is better than the old one. But regrets? None. This array started our contribution to clean energy and our small part in battling climate change, and they have paid for themselves in tax benefits and Green Mountain Power credits.

There are some forms of technology where it is wise to wait. Phones, computers, and TVs, for example. They get faster, smarter, and higher in resolution. But solar arrays ARE the power plant that provides all the kWhs for these things. As long as it is powering your home, it is not obsolete. Solar arrays APPRECIATE.

When we installed our first solar array in 2006, a kWh was worth 8 cents; now, it is worth 18 cents. Our arrays are worth whatever the utility is charging. Our three arrays have produced 167 megawatts, that’s 167,000 kWhs and offsetting 83 TONS of carbon thus far. We expect even the oldest to give us another ten years of free clean energy.

At some point, you have to commit to clean energy. We should have all done this 40 years ago, but it is not too late to begin. Will the technology get better? We sure hope so, but your solar array will never become obsolete because it IS your powerplant, just as the grid is not obsolete though it is 110 years old.

On the other hand, the Chevy Bolt in the driveway? We have replaced our EVs three times as that technology gets old, automobiles depreciate, and they lose that new car smell!

Contact Us to Learn More.

News Release: Same Sun Solarizes Whitehall Armory

WHITEHALL, NY – Same Sun of Vermont is pleased to announce that the solar project at the former Whitehall Armory, located at 62 Poultney Street in the Village of Whitehall, is now underway.  A total of 184 solar modules will be installed on the south-facing roof of the main facility, a castle-like structure that was originally built in 1899.

Marlene Allen of Same Sun & Roark Merrill of Winter Fellowship

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Whitehall Armory has housed U.S. Military and National Guard units going back to the Spanish American War.  The 37,000 square foot, brick and stone medieval-style structure sits on Poultney Street near the Champlain Canal, at the entrance to the Village’s historic waterfront. 

“No one who built this Armory is alive now. And the people who did build it would never have imagined that one day it would be solar powered. This is the significance of bringing 21st century technology to a 19th century landmark; you become very aware of the continuum that is our past and our future.” said Philip Allen, owner of Same Sun of Vermont.  

Same Sun Crew Preparing Roof

Vacated by the military in 2009, the property was redeveloped as an Athletic Club before transferring to the current owner, Winter Fellowship LLC.   The solar project was conceived in 2022 as a way to reduce the carbon footprint as well as costs, and a long permitting process ensued that involved approvals from the Village of Whitehall and Washington County, as well as the utility, National Grid.  NYSERDA, the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency, will provide incentive funding through its NY-SUN program.

Emily Palm-Stikkers, Operations Manager at Same Sun, who shepherded the project through the design phase explained, “Any commercial solar array comes with site-specific challenges that require meticulous planning. Installing one on a 120-year-old historic armory that is the centerpiece of a small town adds even more layers of consideration, partnerships with multiple entities, and technical challenges. Bringing this impressive building up to modern NEC and building code standards, while maintaining its historical charm, has meant that great care and detail have gone into the visible attributes.“

Each year the 59.8kW array will generate 63,000 kWhs of clean, renewable energy to power future activities.

Gov. Hochul at CHPE Ceremony

Whitehall has traditionally been known as the Birthplace of the U.S. Navy, but in the past year has taken on additional significance as a hub in the Champlain Hudson Power Express, an underground and underwater pipeline that will bring 1.25 megawatts of hydro-electricity from Quebec to New York City.  The announcement and ceremonial groundbreaking of this project took place at the Amory in November 2022, presided over by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul.

Same Sun of Vermont was established in 2011 by Marlene Lederman Allen and Philip Allen of Rutland Town, Vermont as a solar sales and service firm. More recently, Same Sun specializes in installations of EV chargers. Headquartered in historic downtown Rutland, Same Sun focuses on customer-driven solutions for the residential and commercial marketplace in Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. Contact us at: www.samesunvt.com/contact.

Why Silfab Solar Panels?

Often when choosing a brand, one has to compromise.  I like this, but I’m not happy with that.  I wish features from two different products were available in one product.  Promising technology, but unattractive appearance.   It looks good but it is poorly made, etc. etc. etc.  Imagine if something came along that checks every box, that you could fully endorse with no compromises.  That would certainly be exciting. Well, this is what we have with Silfab.

Silfab EliteTM 410-watt modules are the solar panels for us with no excuses and no compromise.  

Technically Superior

The Elite offers 410 watts at 21.4 % efficiency through Silfab’s proprietary X-pattern technology, which combines an integrated cell design with a conductive backsheet to create a more efficient and powerful solar panel.  

Aesthetically Pleasing

We have never seen a more sleek and elegant appearance than these all-black solar modules. The flare-like patterning with no white backsheet blends with and even enhances our clients’ rooftops and the entire home’s appearance. 

Unsurpassed Reliability

Silfab has over forty years of  solar design and manufacturing experience, beginning in Toronto, Canada with an expansion into Washington State (two existing facilities, and a third announced for 2024).  The company delivers “Buy American” approved PV modules specifically designed for weather conditions in the North American market.

For further peace of mind, Silfab offers two industry-leading warranty coverages: a 25-year craftsmanship warranty and a performance warranty of nearly 83% after 30 years.

American Products, Vermont Jobs

This has been the standard for Same Sun of Vermont since we began in 2011.  It hasn’t always been easy.  Silfab Elite, being manufactured in Washington State, tells our clients many important things. First, we are supporting good-paying American manufacturing jobs.  Some other nations use child labor, prison labor or pay poor wages to their workers. Second, we know that a factory is Washington is living up to high environmental standards, practically non-existent in China and some other countries. American made helps protect us from supply chain issues and like any manufacturing of power providing technology, it keeps America self-sufficient and secure.

Contact Us to learn more!