An inverter is the part of a solar system that most often fails first, and the one with the least obvious path afterwards. "Solar inverter scrap value" is searched about 10 times a month in Australia, according to Ubersuggest, and the honest answer is that for most owners an inverter has little scrap value and may cost something to dispose of. This guide covers the routes we found, what they return and what we could not confirm. It is short on resale because the sources were. We give no prices. It follows our guides to old solar panels and IT asset disposal, whose e-waste logic applies to inverters too. ScrapTrade runs a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
The e-waste route
The Victorian government says inverters can be recycled through Australia's existing e-waste system. In Victoria they can be taken to e-waste drop-off points at council waste and recycling transfer stations, and from there go to an e-waste recycler that extracts valuable materials for reuse. Management and disposal vary across each state and territory, so check your council. Our guide to selling an old desktop computer explains the national scheme for TVs and computers, which is a different scheme, and we did not confirm that inverters are on its accepted list.
What it returns
Little, according to the commentary we found. One industry piece says that for most asset owners, disposing of an inverter responsibly means paying for e-waste processing and receiving nothing in return, and another says it is not clear how much of an inverter's materials can economically be reclaimed. We found no figures for the copper or aluminium recovered from one, and no scrap price. Ask local scrap dealers whether they take inverters and what they pay, and do not expect much.
Trade-in
A manufacturer scheme may return more. Sungrow runs a residential trade-in programme in which eligible homeowners return old Sungrow inverters through certified installers and receive rebates towards an upgrade, and the rebate varies with the type and condition of the old inverter. That applies only to Sungrow units and is tied to buying a new system. Ask your installer or manufacturer whether a similar offer exists for your brand, because we did not research others.
Resale
We found nothing on second-hand inverter sales, and only an anecdotal remark about one brand's quality. An inverter that works may have a buyer, but we would not sell one without checking what a buyer or installer requires. We did not find the Clean Energy Council's rules on used equipment, and the search did not return them, so we say nothing about what is allowed. Treat resale as unconfirmed.
What to do
- Ask your installer. If they are replacing it, ask what they do with the old one and whether a trade-in exists.
- Check your council's e-waste service. Confirm it takes inverters.
- Ask scrap dealers and e-waste recyclers what they accept. Ask what they charge or pay.
- If it works, ask an installer about resale. Do not advertise it without checking what a buyer needs.
- Keep the paperwork. Any record of where it went.
Questions to ask whoever quotes you
- Installer. What happens to the old inverter, is it taken away in the price and is there a trade-in on offer for my brand?
- Council or transfer station. Do you take inverters at the e-waste point, and is there a charge or a size limit?
- E-waste recycler. Do you accept inverters from households or only from businesses, and what do you do with the metals and boards?
- Scrap dealer. Do you take them whole, and do you pay or charge?
- Anyone offering to buy it. What do you need to know about the model, its age and any fault codes before you pay?
None of these answers is in our sources, because we found nothing that sets them out for inverters. They are the questions that settle where an inverter goes and what it costs.
Where ScrapTrade fits
A single inverter goes to the e-waste system or a trade-in, and ScrapTrade is not a disposal service. A solar installer or an electrical contractor with a quantity of removed inverters, cable and frames may find the marketplace useful, and E-Waste is one of its categories: it is free to list with no commission, terms are agreed in chat and a bid that is accepted puts the buyer's 5 percent deposit in escrow. Businesses and individuals can sell after verification, and buyers in more than 50 countries bid. Whether inverters are accepted is something we could not confirm, so ask cs@scraptrade.com.au first.
What we could not verify
- What any inverter is worth, as scrap or to a buyer. We give no prices.
- How much copper or aluminium can be recovered.
- Whether inverters are accepted under the national TV and computer scheme.
- Second-hand inverter rules, including the Clean Energy Council's.
- Trade-in offers other than Sungrow's.
- Whether ScrapTrade accepts inverters.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recycle an old solar inverter?
Yes. In Victoria it can go to a council e-waste drop-off, and other states differ.
Is a solar inverter worth anything as scrap?
Often little. One commentary says owners usually pay and receive nothing back, and we found no scrap figures.
Is there a trade-in?
Sungrow runs one for its own units, with rebates tied to a new system. Ask about your brand.
Can I sell a second-hand inverter?
We found no guidance. Check what a buyer or installer requires first.
Can I list an inverter on ScrapTrade?
E-waste is a category. Ask support about inverters.
Sources
- Ubersuggest keyword data, Australia, queried November 2026.
- Victorian government and Sustainability Victoria pages on inverter recycling, Sungrow trade-in coverage and industry commentary, as summarised in search results.
- ScrapTrade website, accessed November 2026.
General information only, not technical or legal advice. Rules and offers vary by state and brand.