The Spanish multinational company PROINSO has become a Point of Collection for solar photovoltaic modules for the Association PV CYCLE, a non-profit organization specializing in the global management and recycling of waste (www.pvcycle.org).

The agreement subscribed between both organizations has made it possible for the 892 companies that integrate the PROINSO Network of Qualified Installers, as well as the rest of the companies who work habitually with the multinational, to send in the future any type of photovoltaic module, crystalline or Thin film for recycling to the warehouses of PROINSO in Spain, Italy and Greece. PROINSO have also announced that as well as this possibility, they will shortly be extending their facilities in France and Germany.

The operation will be as follows: PROINSO will provide two containers for crystalline panels and one for Thin Film at each of the collection points located at its warehouses in Europe so that companies from the Network of Qualified installers can send the modules once they have reached the end of their life cycle. PROINSO will store them in a safe area. Once these containers are full, PV CYCLE is responsible for their removal and recycling, in coordination with PROINSO. Depending on the activity carried out at each point, it is possible to increase the number of containers set out in the original agreement.

Moreover, PROINSO- a company which forms part of Grupo OPDE- is contemplating offering its Network of Qualified Installers discounts on the purchase of new modules and additional bonuses based on the number of kWp devoted to recycling.

"In this way, explain the company- we aim to involve the Qualified Installers in the recycling of modules to the full- an activity that benefits the environment by reducing the volume of waste, and helps reduce the amount of energy needed to provide raw material and therefore the costs and environmental impacts of the production of photovoltaic modules ". While those discounts and additional bonus will be determined by those responsible for the Network of Installers in each country, we are -depending on the annual volumes of modules recycled by the installer-," contemplating additional discounts of between 0.5 / 1% on the purchase of new modules or invertors of the brands distributed by PROINSO, depending on the amounts sent for recycling.

PROINSO will not just recycle the modules of the brands commonly distributed by the installers, such as TRINA SOLAR and REC, but also recycle the modules from other manufacturers, and various technologies, including crystalline and thin-film, with the aim of helping and retaining its relationship with Qualified Installers.

A network of 892 Qualified Installers around the world

The PROINSO Network of Qualified installers has already reached the figure of 892 qualified companies worldwide, a figure that far exceeds initial forecasts which pointed towards 200 companies in the network by the end of 2010.

In terms of country of origin of the approved companies in the PROINSO network of qualified installers, Italy stands out, with its 360 certified companies, followed by Germany (121), USA (118), Spain (114), Greece and France with 60 and 56 certified installers, respectively. These photovoltaic installers are companies with a minimum of three years experience in the sector and have a team of engineers and installers who can design and implement projects.

PROINSO expect to exceed a total of more than 1000 installers worldwide before the end of 2010, 5 times more than that originally planned, which will guarantee the success of the model which builds a relationship with it installers.

The Network-launched officially in November 2009 - has also extended to Austria, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, Slovakia, Slovenia, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Nigeria, Netherlands, Portugal, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine, countries where PROINSO currently distributes material.

As highlighted from the company, Qualified Installers are not required to acquire the modules, inverters, trackers and structures from PROINSO, "meaning that they are entirely independent to maximize performance and make their business competitive."

PROINSO will be present at upcoming important international events in the sector: European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (2010 EU PVSEC), to be held from 6 to 9 September in Valencia, at the Zeroemission PV Rome Fair, to be held from 9 to 11 September in the Italian capital, and SOLAPOWER, an event which will run from 12 to 14 October in Los Angeles (USA).