Environmental conditions such as temperature and cloud cover can significantly impact the performance of bifacial solar panels.
Impact of Environmental Conditions
Temperature
- Elevated Temperatures: Higher temperatures can reduce the efficiency of solar panels, including bifacial ones. Elevated temperatures decrease the semiconductor’s performance, leading to a drop in energy yield. This is more pronounced in hot climates where solar panels can become overly heated, reducing their overall efficiency.
- Lower Temperatures: Conversely, colder temperatures, especially with snow-covered surfaces, can enhance bifacial panel performance. The reflective properties of snow increase the albedo effect, allowing more sunlight to be reflected onto the rear side of the panels and increasing energy production.
Cloud Cover
- Cloudy Conditions: Cloud cover reduces the amount of direct sunlight available to solar panels, impacting both front and rear sides. Bifacial panels, while more efficient in capturing diffuse light due to their ability to harness reflected light, still suffer from reduced energy production during prolonged cloudy periods.
- Variability: The impact of cloud cover can vary depending on the region. In areas with consistent cloud cover, bifacial panels may not achieve their maximum potential compared to locations with clearer skies.
Albedo Effect and Surface Reflectivity
- Albedo Impact: The albedo, or reflectivity of surfaces beneath the panels, plays a crucial role in bifacial panel performance. Highly reflective surfaces like snow or sand increase the energy capture by reflecting more light onto the rear of the panels. In contrast, darker surfaces like asphalt reduce energy production by reflecting less light.
Conclusion
Bifacial solar panels are more efficient than traditional panels due to their ability to capture light on both sides. However, environmental conditions such as temperature and cloud cover affect their performance. Optimizing bifacial panel installations involves assessing these conditions to maximize energy yield.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-environmental-conditions-like-temperature-and-cloud-cover-impact-bifacial-panel-performance/
