PVpallet Donation Aids Disaster Relief Efforts
Donated PVpallets Dramatically Improve Safety and Efficiency for Footprint Project’s Relief Efforts
May 4, 2022 (NEW ORLEANS) – PVpallet, Inc.—creator of the first recyclable, reusable, stackable and adjustable solar shipping system—donated 5 PVpallets to aid disaster relief efforts led by Footprint Project. Donated PVpallets have been used to transport new PV modules from storage to the disaster site, establish an on-site system and stage modules for the new array, decommission the damaged array, store modules on site, and transport them to storage until their next deployment. Footprint Project is dedicated to bringing cleaner energy to communities affected by climate disasters and humanitarian crises.
The first deployment of the donated pallets went to assist Footprint Project’s disaster response teams as they deployed a mobile solar/battery system at the Community Center of St. Bernard in the wake of the devastating tornadoes in New Orleans. In a separate deployment, Footprint Project used PVpallets to safely double stack mobile power units for storage in preparation for hurricane season.
“PVpallet is a game changer for us,” says Will Heegaard, Operations Director of Footprint Project. “We can store, stage, and transport the modules vertically (rather than stacked on top of one another), which makes it easier and safer to deploy and decommission our systems. Anyone regularly handling second-life PV modules needs PVpallet.”
PVpallet Co-founder and CEO Philip Schwarz says giving and positive change are foundational to how PVpallet does business. “We want to change the world for the better,” he adds. “Partnering with organizations who are doing good through solar is a perfect place to start.”
About PVpallet: PVpallet, Inc. is revolutionizing solar shipping with the industry’s first recyclable, reusable, collapsible pallet system designed to ship and protect solar PV modules. Our practical solution is based on needs we saw in the industry. The result? Improved efficiencies and waste reduction throughout the solar supply chain, including manufacturing, distribution, installation, decommissioning and recycling, warehouse storage, and construction waste disposal. PVpallet is made from post-consumer HDPE type 2 plastic and replaces traditional wood pallets. Industry-wide adoption of PVpallet could reduce the wood waste created by the global solar industry by over 400 million pounds per year.
About the Footprint Project: Footprint Project is a non-profit organization that deploys renewable energy equipment to communities affected by climate disasters and humanitarian crises. To date, they have deployed 150+ kW of mobile solar and 550+ kWh of mobile battery storage to 15+ disaster response and recovery missions in the United States—providing emergency clean power access to over 25,000 US citizens—including communities affected by the Kentucky tornadoes in December 2021, Hurricane Ida in September 2021, and Iowa storms in August 2020. Footprint Project also reduces solar waste by encouraging industry partners to repurpose solar equipment for a cause.