Repurposing for Resilience Solar Reuse Centre reflects on first year
Just short of a year ago, the Repurposing for Resilience Solar Reuse Centre was officially opened at the Moruya Transfer Station. On Friday morning, supporters gathered at the Centre to hear about what the volunteer organisation is up to.
This first of its kind initiative has already stopped 2466+ discarded solar panels from an early death in landfill resulting in fiscal savings to the Eurobodalla Shire Council and its constituents of $24,660 [based on current panel disposal costs].
During this short time, the initiative has changed the way Industry looks at used panels and associated equipment, by assigning them with a real value.
Panels are brought to the Centre by Installers and community members and taken through an inspection and testing regime for safety, then performance efficiency benchmarked against original manufacturing specifications. From here they are graded through a reuse or repurposing stream which either makes them available for resale with warranty, or uses them for other practical applications.
As a not-for-profit operation, all sales are invested back into the centre and the free and subsidised services it provides to the community including workshops to upskill.
The Centre has to date assisted over a dozen local households and businesses with solar and storage solutions using this repurposed equipment and over 150 members of the community with free assistance and advice through its volunteer electrical contractors attending on Friday mornings.
“Fridays get together with ESC executives, Councillors, waste and sustainability teams and neighbouring shires, was about more than just a cuppa” said founding member Lisa Cornthwaite. “I think it’s a really overdue opportunity to reflect on the strides we’ve made share our vision for the future and explore ways we can collaborate to amplify and build on our successes.”
“From here we want to find funding for a bespoke Industrial Materials Recovery plant which would serve the entire south coast and close the gap with sustainable waste management in our region” said Lisa.
The small team of volunteers have been busy attending events to fundraise this year and will be catering for Councils Earthhour event this coming Saturday at the Regional Botanical Gardens from the Community Access Solar Power trailer they built.
