Interview: Inside solar panel decommissioning

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Decom Solar, founded by Stephen Burns, specializes in providing comprehensive end-of-life management services for commercial and small utility-scale solar customers in the United States. With a focus on sustainability, Decom Solar aims to prevent any materials from solar systems ending up in landfills. The company conducts testing to determine the viability of reusing components and works with equipment resellers and nonprofits to resell or donate materials that still have life in them. Decom Solar stands out in the industry as one of the few companies solely dedicated to end-of-life services.

In a sector where end-of-life considerations are often overlooked, Decom Solar plays a crucial role in handling decommissioning, repowering, and deinstallation processes for solar projects. While federal regulations for end-of-life management in the solar industry are lacking in the US, some states like California and Washington have started implementing formal rules. Decom Solar emphasizes proper disposal methods and documentation, ensuring that materials are either recycled or put back into the supply chain through reuse. The company also collaborates with partners in the recycling sector to responsibly manage components like modules, inverters, and racking.