Bifacial solar panels are not universally suitable for all types of installations; their effectiveness and appropriateness depend largely on the installation environment and setup.
Suitability Overview
- Rooftop Installations: Bifacial panels are generally not suitable for rooftop installations. This is because rooftops typically lack the reflective surfaces necessary to maximize the energy capture from the rear side of bifacial panels, limiting their advantage over traditional monofacial panels.
- Ground-Mounted Systems: Bifacial panels work well with residential ground-mounted solar systems. These setups can be optimized for height, tilt, and surface reflectivity to capture sunlight on both sides of the panels, significantly increasing energy production.
- Commercial and Utility-Scale Installations: The ideal use case for bifacial solar panels is commercial and utility-scale projects. These large-scale installations can optimize panel spacing, height, and ground reflectivity (such as light-colored gravel or surfaces with high albedo), maximizing the energy gain from both panel faces.
- Special Environments: Bifacial panels are especially effective in environments with high ground reflectivity like snow, sand, or light-colored roofs, and in low-light or cloudy conditions where capturing diffuse light from both sides enhances performance.
Installation Considerations
- Bifacial panels require specialized mounting systems that elevate the panels sufficiently off the ground or surface to allow light reflection onto the back side.
- Adjusting panel height and tilt angle is crucial to optimizing sunlight exposure and reflected light capture.
- Vertical installations are possible and can capture sunlight effectively during sunrise and sunset, benefiting from lower accumulation of snow and debris.
Summary Table
| Installation Type | Suitability | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Rooftop | Generally not suitable | Limited rear-side light reflection reduces gain |
| Residential Ground-Mounted | Suitable | Can optimize for reflected light, height, tilt |
| Commercial/Utility-Scale | Highly suitable | Space and surface can be optimized for best output |
| Special Conditions (Snow/Sand) | Very suitable | High reflectivity enhances rear-side energy capture |
| Portable/Off-Grid | Suitable | Extra light capture useful in low-light/cloudy areas |
In conclusion, bifacial solar panels are not optimal for all installations—particularly rooftops—but excel in ground-mounted, commercial, and high-reflectivity settings where their unique ability to capture light on both sides can be fully utilized. Proper site assessment and specialized mounting are critical to their success.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/are-bifacial-solar-panels-suitable-for-all-types-of-installations/
