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Solar panels · Reuse

Decommissioned solar panels: testing, reuse and recovery

EcoBaterías tests, repairs, refurbishes and reuses lithium batteries and solar panels, and manages the recycling of whatever can no longer be used with authorized receiving facilities, with pickup coordinated with licensed hazardous-waste carriers anywhere in Chile.

Updated October 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the EcoBaterías technical team

Send my panel batch for testing

Four outcomes for every module

Reuse, repair, resale as a refurbished panel or recycling with a certificate from the authorized receiving facility. Testing decides the route for each module, not the age of the batch.

In the lab: 6 minutes per module · 50–100 modules per day.

  • ≥ 50%of the modules removed in a repowering are usually in good enough condition for reuse
  • 58%of 3,749 decommissioned panels were still fit for a second life in an Australian study
  • 400,000–850,000modules a year would leave service in Chile in the years when supply contracts expire
  • 10% → 50%DS 22/2025 collection and valorization targets for panels, from 2030 to 2037

Sources: QUASAR project (EU), D2.2, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · ANU and CSIRO in pv magazine, 2026-08-19 (opens in a new tab) · EcoBaterías Solar Observatory (our own estimate), as of 2026-09-11 · DS 22/2025, Carey summary (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

  • A report for every module with measured power, electroluminescence image and insulation
  • Valorization certificate for every batch, issued by the authorized receiving facility, for your Law No. 20,920 report
  • A reply within 48 business hours with the proposed route and test scope
  • Coordinated pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers across Chile
On this page

    EcoBaterías takes in batches of decommissioned solar panels from anywhere in Chile for testing in Santiago and Viña del Mar, tests every module and sets its route: reuse, repair, resale as a refurbished panel or recycling. We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers and close every batch with a report for each module; we manage the valorization of whatever is recycled with authorized receiving facilities, and the authorized receiving facility closes the SIDREP declaration and issues the valorization certificate for Chile’s Extended Producer Responsibility law (Ley REP, Law No. 20,920). In a repowering, at least half of the removed modules are usually in good enough condition for reuse, according to the European QUASAR project.

    Who it is for
    Owners of plants and PMGDs (Chile’s small distributed generation plants), operation and maintenance contractors, EPC contractors, insurers and rooftop owners
    What we handle
    Crystalline silicon modules with 60, 72 and 144 half cells, 250 to 700 W, monofacial and glass-glass bifacial, whole or broken
    Testing
    Visual inspection, insulation, bypass diodes, electroluminescence and I-V curve at standard test conditions
    Lab capacity
    6 minutes per module · 50–100 modules per day
    Our grades
    P1 ≥ 85% of nameplate · P2 80–85% · P3 70–80% · below 70%: recycling
    Documents
    A report for every module, a measured-power label and a valorization certificate from the authorized receiving facility, for every batch
    Price and lead time
    Confirmed in the quote · we reply within 48 business hours
    Service status
    Available

    Terms used on this page. Revalorization is the name we use for giving value back to an end-of-life battery or panel through repair, refurbishment, second life or recycling. The Chilean legal term is valorization: it covers preparing for reuse, recycling and energy recovery (Law No. 20,920, art. 3 No. 30). Preparing for reuse means checking, cleaning or repairing a discarded product so it can be used again without any other processing (art. 3 No. 18). STC are standard test conditions: 1,000 W/m² irradiance and 25 °C cell temperature, the same conditions as the nameplate rating. More terms in the technical glossary.

    Where do decommissioned panels come from?

    Where decommissioned panels come from in Chile, estimated volume and usual route
    SourceEstimated volume in ChileTypical conditionUsual route
    Breakage in transport, construction and operation≈6,016 t of broken modules already generated at the plants analyzedBroken glass or microcracksRecycling, with a valorization certificate from the authorized receiving facility
    Early removals, warranty claims and incidents (hail, wind, fire)55,000–80,000 modules a year until 2029Mixed: faulty junction boxes and diodes, power loss, delaminationModule-by-module testing; repair, reuse or recycling
    Repowering when supply contracts expire (2030 and 2033–2035)400,000–850,000 modules in the expiry yearsAt least half fit for reuse, according to QUASARReuse with a report for every module; recycling of the rest
    Commercial and residential rooftopsNot quantifiedHealthy modules removed for an expansion or an equipment changeReuse or resale as refurbished panels

    Swipe to see the full table

    Sources: EcoBaterías Solar Observatory (our own estimate), as of 2026-09-11 (years are supply-contract expiries, not announced closures) · QUASAR D2.2, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    According to the Circular Economy in Energy Roadmap 2026–2030 of Chile’s Ministry of Energy, about 55 million panels were installed in Chile between 2010 and mid-2023, and panel waste reached some 11,000 t by 2024, mostly from damage in transport, installation and operation. The same roadmap warns that manufacturer warranties generally do not allow repair or reuse: if your module is still under warranty, ask for solar panel testing before anyone works on it.

    Source: Ministry of Energy, Circular Economy in Energy Roadmap 2026–2030 (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    What happens to each module? The four routes

    A

    Direct reuse

    Grade P1: 85% or more of nameplate power, no critical defects in electroluminescence and sound insulation. It goes back to your plant or is sold with a measured-power label and a report. See refurbished solar panels.

    B

    Repair and refurbishment

    Replacement of the junction box, bypass diodes, connectors, cables or frame, retested before delivery. Grade P2 (80–85% of nameplate) goes through refurbishment and a new test. See solar panel repair.

    C

    Off-grid uses

    Grade P3 (70–80% of nameplate): pumping, irrigation, remote sites and off-grid backup, subject to the requirements of the SEC, Chile’s electricity regulator. The installation is defined by a licensed electrical installer.

    D

    Recycling with a certificate

    Below 70% of nameplate, broken glass, delamination reaching the edge or insulation that cannot be restored. We manage its valorization with authorized receiving facilities; the authorized receiving facility closes the SIDREP declaration and issues the valorization certificate. See solar panel recycling.

    Sources: grades P1–P3 from the EcoBaterías test protocol (our own classification, not a standard) · repairs according to IEA-PVPS T13-37:2026 (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    A module with broken or cracked glass is neither repaired nor sold. Technical Instruction RGR No. 02/2024 of the SEC bans installing modules with breaks or cracks, and once the glass is broken insulation can no longer be guaranteed, especially when wet. As an outside reference, the European CIRCUSOL project proposed treating a module as functional if it keeps at least 70% of its nominal power; IEA-PVPS calls that threshold somewhat arbitrary while no regulation exists.

    Sources: SEC, RGR No. 02/2024, §8 (opens in a new tab) · IEA-PVPS T13-37:2026, §3.1.1 (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    Which panels do we handle, and which not?

    Which modules we handle and which route they follow
    Module or equipmentDo we handle it?Usual route
    Mono or poly crystalline silicon, PERC or TOPCon, 250 to 700 W, with a legible nameplateYesTesting and grading as P1, P2, P3 or recycling
    Glass-glass bifacialYesTesting and grading
    Heterojunction (HJT)YesTesting and grading without a PID test: IEC TS 62804-1 does not cover heterojunction
    Damaged junction box, diode, connector, cable or frameYesRepair and retest
    Broken or cracked glass, delamination reaching the edge or burn marksYes, for recyclingRecycling, with a valorization certificate from the authorized receiving facility; never repaired or sold
    Thin film (CdTe, CIGS)Yes, for testing or recyclingQuoted case by case; not refurbished for resale
    InvertersWe do not repair themTheir handling as waste is quoted separately
    Storage system batteriesYes, through another serviceEnd-of-life BESS and lithium battery recycling

    Swipe to see the full table

    Sources: scope of IEC TS 62804-1:2025 (opens in a new tab) (crystalline silicon; excludes thin film, tandem and heterojunction) · EcoBaterías’ own scope · 2026-09-26

    How do you hand over a batch? Step by step

    1. Request with the batch detailsBrand, model, nameplate power, year, quantity, condition, reason for removal and location, with photos of the nameplate and of any damage. We reply within 48 business hours with the proposed route and the quote.
    2. On-site testing or transportAt large plants we propose testing on site and moving only what has a defined destination. If the batch is moved, we coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers; undamaged panels that go back into service travel as general cargo.
    3. Declaration documentIf the batch is waste, your company issues the declaration document in SIDREP, Chile’s hazardous-waste declaration and tracking system, when it ships; the carrier and the receiving facility sign it (DS 148, arts. 81 and 83).
    4. Testing and gradingVisual inspection, insulation, bypass diodes, electroluminescence and an I-V curve at standard test conditions. Each module is graded P1, P2, P3 or recycling.
    5. Repair and retestWhatever can be fixed is repaired (junction box, diodes, connectors, cables or frame) and goes through the wet leakage test and the I-V curve again.
    6. Close-out documentsA report for every module, a measured-power label on the modules that are reused and a valorization certificate from the authorized receiving facility for whatever is recycled.

    In the lab, testing takes 6 minutes per module, with 50–100 modules per day. That is lab capacity, not a committed lead time: the lead time for each batch is confirmed in the quote.

    Which tests decide the route? A summary

    Testing combines five checks, and each one sees a different fault. This is the summary; the detail of each test, its standards, sampling and the content of the report are in solar panel testing.

    • Visual inspection under at least 1,000 lux: rejects broken glass, burn marks and delamination reaching the edge (IEC 61215-2:2021).
    • Dry insulation and wet leakage: a module larger than 0.1 m² passes with at least 40 MΩ·m².
    • Bypass diodes: an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 2/3 of normal points to a disconnected substring or a faulty diode.
    • Electroluminescence (EL): an image of the module taken in the dark while current is injected; it shows microcracks and inactive cells (IEC TS 60904-13:2018).
    • I-V curve at STC: maximum measured power against the nameplate (IEC 60904-1 and IEC 60891).

    Measuring dry alone is not enough: in a 2026 study of 37 modules from utility-scale plants, 8.1% failed dry insulation and 21.6% failed wet. That is why every repaired module, except those that only had cables or connectors replaced, goes through wet leakage again. Plants in operation with even degradation can be sampled; the draft IEC PAS 63525, not yet published, recommends testing every module that will be sold.

    Sources: IEC 61215-2:2021, preview (opens in a new tab) · insulation thresholds (Millennial Solar) (opens in a new tab) · IEC TS 60904-13:2018 (opens in a new tab) · IEC 60904-1 (opens in a new tab) · IEC 60891:2021 (opens in a new tab) · Sustainability 18(3):1212, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · IEA-PVPS T13-37:2026 (opens in a new tab) · IEC PAS 63525 project status (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    How do you prepare the batch for pickup?

    • Separate modules that can be reused from broken ones, with labeled pallets or colored film, as the European QUASAR guide recommends.
    • Do not overstack, throw or dismantle them: the final proposal of DS 22/2025 asks for that care with waste fit for reuse during collection and transport.
    • Lift each module with two people, by the short side and never by the junction box. Store it packed, dry, flat and with nothing on top.
    • A module produces voltage under any light and only stops if it is covered with an opaque material. Do not handle a module with broken glass or exposed cables without protection.

    Panels are not dangerous goods under the UN regulations (they have no UN number), but at end of life they are handled as hazardous waste unless declassified. Packaging, labels and documents for each case are in battery and solar panel collection.

    Sources: QUASAR D2.2 (opens in a new tab) · Ministry of the Environment, Res. Ex. 3413/2025, final proposal of DS 22/2025 (opens in a new tab) · JinkoSolar, unpacking and storage (opens in a new tab) · JinkoSolar, installation manual (opens in a new tab) · RID 2025, Table A (opens in a new tab) · Ministry of Energy, Roadmap (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    Which documents do you receive?

    Close-out documents for a batch of decommissioned panels
    DocumentWhat it containsWhat it is for
    Report for every moduleSerial number, nameplate data, EL image, I-V curve at STC, insulation and gradeDeciding the route, backing a warranty or insurance claim, or selling the module
    Measured-power labelMeasured power, grade and 5 W power band, next to the original nameplate without covering itIdentifying every module that goes back into service
    Batch summaryModules by grade and power band, and defects by typePlanning reuse, resale or spares
    Valorization certificate (issued by the authorized receiving facility)Number of modules, mass received and destination of each fractionSupporting your Law No. 20,920 report and the DS 22/2025 targets

    Swipe to see the full table

    The format follows what reuse schemes ask for. The R2v3 standard (Appendix G) requires telling the buyer the measured power at STC, its percentage of design power and every repair made, and the draft IEC PAS 63525 asks for a reuse label that does not cover the original one. Our report is technical: it is neither a product certification nor an SEC authorization.

    Sources: R2v3, Appendix G (EnergyBin summary) (opens in a new tab) · IEA-PVPS T13-37:2026, §3.1.2 (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    Can a decommissioned panel be connected to the grid again?

    The SEC (Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles) authorizes modules by brand and model, based on IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certificates issued for the new product (Res. Ex. 32427/2020; RGR No. 02/2024, §8). There is no authorization route for used or refurbished modules as such. Every module we return or sell keeps its brand, model and nameplate, and the installation declared to the SEC is defined by the licensed electrical installer. We recommend checking with the SEC before connecting used modules to the grid.

    Off-grid use is not free of requirements: ITG RIC No. 9.1 also asks for authorized models. If you are looking for tested modules to buy, see used and refurbished solar panels, with the measured data sheet of every module and its warranty.

    Sources: SEC Res. Ex. 32427/2020 (opens in a new tab) · SEC, RGR No. 02/2024 (opens in a new tab) · SEC, ITG RIC No. 9.1/2021 (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    What does it cost and how long does it take?

    Price and lead time are confirmed in the quote. They depend on:

    • the number of modules and whether all of them or a sample are tested;
    • the condition of the batch: installed, removed, stacked in a warehouse, whole or broken;
    • where testing happens: your plant or our lab;
    • distance and type of transport;
    • the repairs needed.

    Reuse avoids paying to recycle those modules and makes it possible to sell them, according to the QUASAR guide: that is why testing comes first. We reply within 48 business hours. Request an assessment of your batch.

    Where do we work?

    We take in batches from anywhere in Chile for testing. Our lab is in Santiago, and testing is done at our facilities or coordinated on site, case by case, from commercial rooftops to plants in the north. We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers. If you are removing all or part of a plant, see solar plant repowering: each megawatt of silicon panels equals between 1,430 and 3,125 modules and between 55 and 83 tonnes, depending on panel power.

    Sources: our own calculation from the data sheets of JinkoSolar JKM320PP-72 (320 W, 26.5 kg) (opens in a new tab) and Trina Vertex N NEG21C.20 (700 W, 38.3 kg) (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    Regulatory framework

    • Law No. 20,920 (Ley REP): preparing for reuse (art. 3 No. 18) is valorization (art. 3 No. 30), just like recycling. Every waste holder must hand its waste to an authorized waste manager (art. 5).
    • Supreme Decree (DS) 22/2025: published on 2026-05-07, with targets enforceable 24 months later: 10% in year three (2030) and 50% from year ten (2037), measured against estimated waste. Photovoltaic installations above 1 MW will have to report every year to the RETC (Chile’s Pollutant Release and Transfer Register), before May 31, the panels in use and their projected waste.
    • Supreme Decree (DS) 148/2003: according to the Ministry of Energy, an end-of-life or damaged panel is handled as hazardous waste unless declassified. That requires transport with a health permit, an authorized receiving facility (art. 27) and a declaration document in SIDREP, Chile’s national hazardous-waste declaration and tracking system (art. 81).
    • SEC: authorization of modules by brand and model (Res. Ex. 32427/2020), module requirements and the ban on breaks or cracks (RGR No. 02/2024) and off-grid installations (ITG RIC No. 9.1).
    • IEC 61215, IEC 61730, IEC TS 60904-13, IEC 60891 and EN 50614: reference standards for the test method and for preparing for reuse. They are cited as methods, not as certifications held by EcoBaterías.

    Sources: Law No. 20,920, BCN (opens in a new tab) · DS 22/2025, Official Gazette, 2026-05-07 (opens in a new tab) · Ministry of the Environment, Res. Ex. 3413/2025 (opens in a new tab) · DS 148/2003, BCN (opens in a new tab) · Ministry of Energy, Roadmap (opens in a new tab) · EN 50614:2020 (opens in a new tab) · 2026-09-26

    Frequently asked questions

    What should I do with used or decommissioned solar panels in Chile?

    Do not throw them away or stockpile them without control: according to Chile’s Ministry of Energy, an end-of-life panel is handled as hazardous waste unless it is declassified. The first step is testing. EcoBaterías takes in the batch for testing, tests every module and separates the ones that are reused, repaired or sold from the ones that are recycled with authorized receiving facilities; the authorized receiving facility closes the SIDREP declaration and issues the valorization certificate for Law No. 20,920.

    How much power does a decommissioned panel keep?

    It depends on the module and its history, which is why we measure it. In Brazil, 23-year-old polycrystalline modules kept 87 to 88% of their nameplate power. In Australia, 58% of 3,749 decommissioned panels were still fit for a second life. The median degradation measured by NREL is 0.5% per year.

    Where can I sell used solar panels?

    Send us the batch details: brand, model, quantity, year and location. We test the modules and propose the route with the most value: keep them tested, sell them as refurbished panels with their measured power or recycle whatever does not work. Terms are confirmed in the quote.

    Is a decommissioned solar panel hazardous waste?

    According to Chile’s Ministry of Energy, an end-of-life or damaged panel is handled as hazardous waste unless it is declassified under Supreme Decree (DS) 148. That is why moving it requires transport with a health permit, a SIDREP declaration document and an authorized receiving facility. Undamaged panels that go back into service travel as general cargo.

    Can a used panel be connected to the grid again?

    Chile’s SEC authorizes modules by brand and model, based on IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certificates for the new product, and there is no authorization route for used or refurbished modules. Each module keeps its brand, model and nameplate, and the installation is defined by the licensed electrical installer. We recommend checking with the SEC. A module with breaks or cracks cannot be installed.

    Does reuse count under Chile’s EPR law?

    Yes. Law No. 20,920 defines valorization as preparing for reuse, recycling and energy recovery (art. 3 No. 30). Checking, cleaning or repairing a panel so it can be used again is preparing for reuse (art. 3 No. 18). The valorization certificate issued by the authorized receiving facility supports your report.

    Which documents do I receive when I hand over a batch?

    A report for every module with its serial number, electroluminescence image, I-V curve, insulation and grade; a measured-power label on the modules that are reused; and the valorization certificate issued by the authorized receiving facility for whatever is recycled, with the number of modules, the mass received and the destination of each fraction.

    Do you test at the plant or do the panels have to be moved?

    Both. At large plants it makes sense to test on site and move only what has a defined destination. Small batches or modules stacked in a warehouse are tested in our lab in Santiago, at 6 minutes per module. We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers anywhere in Chile.

    More answers in the FAQ on lithium batteries and solar panels.

    Sources

    Updated October 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the EcoBaterías technical team

    Do you have a batch of decommissioned panels?

    Tell us the brand, model, quantity, year and location. We assess the batch and propose the route with the most value within 48 business hours.

    • Reply within 48 business hours
    • Pickup coordinated with licensed hazardous-waste carriers across Chile
    • Technical report for every batch
    • In-house testing lab for batteries and panels
    Send my panel batch for testingI want to buy refurbished panels

    Keep reading

    All battery and panel services are listed in services for lithium batteries and solar panels. If your modules have specific faults, see solar panel repair; for the legal context, read the guide what to do with used or broken solar panels.