Episode 883
883: Half of the Existing Solar Arrays Might Fail by 2030? Cesar Barbosa Thinks So
Most people in solar avoid the uncomfortable conversation: what happens when systems age, warranties expire, components fail, and the original installer is long gone.
Cesar Barbosa — founder of NuLife Power Services — has built a business around the part of the industry nobody wants to talk about: decommissioning, system remediation, and repowering. In this episode, Cesar breaks down why aging commercial solar is becoming a massive opportunity, the common failure points he’s seeing in the field, and why he believes repowering is the next frontier for EPCs, developers, and asset owners.
We also get into the “New Life Method,” the real economics behind end-of-life planning, the ethics of second-life solar in developing markets, and the leadership disciplines required to build a trades business that lasts — including how Cesar’s faith shapes the way he leads.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why repowering may outpace new installs as the next big services wave
- What most asset owners and EPCs get wrong about end-of-life planning
- The real-world failure points showing up in aging systems
- How contractors can pivot into repowering and remediation work
- The “3 Rs” of end-of-life PV: repurpose, refurbish, recycle
If you're in solar and not thinking about end-of-life... its time to start.
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