Bifacial Solar Panels in Different Weather Conditions
Bifacial solar panels, capable of capturing sunlight from both the front and rear sides, offer improved efficiency over traditional monofacial panels. Their performance in various weather conditions is influenced by several key factors:
1. Climatic Conditions and Temperature
- Hot Climates: Elevated temperatures in hot climates can reduce the efficiency of all solar panels, including bifacial ones, by lowering their energy yield.
- Cold Climates: In colder climates, especially with snow cover, bifacial panels can leverage the high albedo (reflectivity) of snow to boost energy production significantly.
2. Albedo Effect and Reflective Surfaces
- High Albedo Surfaces: The albedo effect is crucial, particularly with surfaces like snow, sand, or light-colored rooftops, which can reflect additional sunlight onto the rear side of bifacial panels, enhancing energy capture.
- Low Albedo Surfaces: On darker surfaces like asphalt or dark soil, the albedo effect is less pronounced, resulting in lower energy gains from the rear side.
3. Shading and Obstructions
Bifacial panels are sensitive to shading from obstructions like trees or buildings, which can significantly reduce their performance by blocking light from reaching both the front and rear surfaces.
4. Snowfall
- Advantage Over Monofacial Panels: Bifacial panels can recover more quickly from snowfall because even if the front is obstructed, they can still produce power from the rear surface.
- Impact on Performance: Snow on the front surface can reduce production significantly, but bifacial panels can still generate some power from the rear, making them advantageous in snowy conditions.
5. Tilt Angle and Orientation
Optimizing the tilt angle and orientation of bifacial panels is crucial to maximize sunlight capture on both sides, especially in areas where light is reflected from the ground or surrounding surfaces.
Overall, bifacial solar panels perform well across various weather conditions, particularly benefiting from high albedo surfaces and rapid recovery from snowfall events. However, they require careful installation and consideration of local climate and environmental factors to optimize their performance.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-bifacial-solar-panels-perform-in-different-weather-conditions/
