EnergyBin unveiled the PV Hardware Trade Analysis H1 2023 report. This report offers a glimpse into the market insights accessible through PV hardware trade on the EnergyBin exchange platform, showcasing product categories available for resale, purchase requests, prominent brands for buyers and sellers, as well as information on solar module availability and pricing.

EnergyBin, a B2B wholesale solar equipment exchange with close to 1,000 members (a 65% increase since January 2022), serves as a platform that enables solar companies to connect for the buying and selling of PV hardware. While transactions do not occur directly on the EnergyBin platform, PV hardware trade saw a significant surge of 176% during the first half of 2022.

The PV hardware exchanged on EnergyBin is classified as secondary market merchandise. It’s important to note that the secondary market shouldn’t be viewed simply as a ‘secondhand’ market, although some items traded may have been used in a solar array before. In reality, the secondary market encompasses both new and pre-owned equipment, providing a platform for buyers and sellers to engage in transactions involving goods that have previously been circulated in the primary market, offering an alternative avenue for trade.

Established in 2018 with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Sunshot Initiative Award, EnergyBin operates as a subsidiary of Broker Exchange Network, headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota, and established in 2002. With a wealth of over two decades in managing B2B wholesale exchanges for IT and PV hardware, the company’s sister site, BrokerBin, boasts a membership of 12,500 traders conducting business across 65 countries.

“Back in the day, we used to hear alarming tales of solar firms discarding surplus equipment, including brand new items, due to lack of storage space and uncertainty about disposal,” explains Kuehl. “A few managed to sell on Craigslist. Nowadays, PV experts are leaning towards a different approach, opting for resale in the secondary market when equipment deviates from the usual distribution route.”