Plunged 30%! U.S. Used Solar Panel Prices Hit Record Low

The fifth annual "Solar Panel Price Index - Secondary Solar Market" report, jointly released by EnergyBin and Buckstop, shows that 98% of solar panel on the secondary market have power ranges between 400 and 525 watts, making them most suitable for residential markets.

This price index tracks the wholesale prices and supply of crystalline silicon (c-Si) panel that have left traditional distribution channels and are listed for resale on the EnergyBin trading platform. EnergyBin is a B2B solar equipment wholesale trading platform composed of over 1,000 member companies, aimed at connecting solar enterprises interested in buying and selling solar hardware. Although transactions are not completed directly on the EnergyBin platform, sales records indicate that from January 2020 to December 2025, more than 8.7 million solar panels were listed for resale on the platform.

Renee Kuehl, Chief Operating Officer of EnergyBin, stated: "The Solar Panel Price Index provides evidence for the fifth consecutive year that the secondary solar panel market is continuously growing. It is evident from this price index that most resold solar panels still retain resale value. Despite global solar panel price declines since 2023, the index still highlights certain nurturing space in the U.S. market."

In 2025, the panel listed for resale were primarily new (98%) all-black, bifacial, and mono-facial types, with power ranges between 400 and 525 watts. These solar panel mainly originated from project cancellations and delays. Additionally, due to resellers anticipating the gradual phase-out of PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) technology, they are eager to offload p-type panels, leading to an increase in supply on the secondary market. The resale value of PERC panels remained stable throughout the year, but as the supply of n-type solar panel surpasses p-type, their value will begin to decline.

Another key finding reveals the impact of global oversupply on the resale of used solar panel. From January 2024 to the fourth quarter of 2025, the average price of used solar panel plummeted 30%, dropping to $0.058 per watt. Given that as of December, the quoted price for new TOPCon panel from China (FOB) was $0.090 per watt, the resale market for used panel has been somewhat impacted. However, a market size analysis provided by Buckstop shows that a large number of used panels are not circulated through wholesale trading platforms like EnergyBin, but are directly exported to buyers in countries such as Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Afghanistan, and South Africa. In 2025, the total export of used panels from the U.S. to these countries reached 50 MW.

Today, there seems to be an exception that proves the viability of used panel resale: those high-quality solar panel with less than 10 years of use, annual degradation rates between 0.5% and 1% or below, and no defects. Since buyers prioritize panel quality over price, the resale of used panels—especially those in excellent condition, with 3.2 mm glass and no cracks in the back-sheet—presents an opportunity.

Nick Kumleben, Chief Business Development Officer and Co-Founder of Buckstop, said: "The secondary market provides solar enterprises with opportunities to create financial, social, and operational value. The secondary market is not only a useful source for spare parts and liquidity for excess inventory. Resale also enables solar operators to find used solar equipment, donate unwanted inventory, alleviate supply chain shortages through recycling, and help address global energy poverty."

In the fifth year of releasing this report, the research findings reveal the opportunities inherent in a vibrant and sustainable secondary market, which supports the continuous extension of solar asset lifecycles, maximization of asset recovery, and minimization of solar e-waste. As the reuse of solar panel that have not yet reached the end of their lifespan becomes mainstream, and as comprehensive recycling infrastructure is established to extract and redeploy materials, the value and scale of the secondary market will continue to increase.

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