Weather conditions significantly impact the effectiveness of bifacial solar panels in several ways:
Impact of Sunlight and Reflectivity
- Abundant Sunlight and High Reflectivity: Bifacial panels rely on capturing light from both their front and rear sides, so they perform best in locations with strong direct sunlight and high ground reflectivity (albedo). Surfaces like snow or light-colored ground can increase reflected light, boosting the rear panel’s energy generation and overall efficiency. For example, snow-covered surfaces can increase bifacial gain by about 20% due to higher albedo.
- Cloud Cover and Low-Light Conditions: While all solar panels produce less power under cloudy or stormy weather because clouds block sunlight, bifacial panels have an advantage. They can capture diffuse and reflected light on their rear side, allowing them to maintain a higher output than traditional monofacial panels during cloudy days. Typically, panels may produce 10–25% of rated capacity in such conditions, but bifacial modules can generate relatively more electricity due to their dual-sided design.
Temperature Effects
- High Temperatures: Elevated temperatures can reduce bifacial panel efficiency. For instance, in hot and humid climates like Houston, Texas, high heat during summer months can negatively affect performance despite abundant sunlight. Proper system design tailored to local climate can help mitigate these effects.
- Winter Performance: Bifacial panels show a distinctive advantage in winter, as studies report efficiency boosts up to 28.4%, nearly three times the minimum summer improvement. This is partly due to snow’s high reflectivity and the panels’ ability to recover quickly after snowfall, unlike monofacial panels which may stay obstructed longer.
Shading and Obstructions
- Bifacial panels are especially sensitive to shading because shadows reduce light on both sides. Any obstruction such as trees, buildings, or other objects decreases reflected light reaching the rear surface, resulting in notable drops in power output. Ensuring an installation site free from shading throughout the day is critical for maximizing bifacial solar energy production.
Precipitation and Wind
- Rain: Rain generally does not harm bifacial panels because they are waterproof. Moreover, rain can improve performance by naturally washing away dust and dirt buildup, keeping surfaces clean for better sunlight absorption.
- Wind: Normal wind does not affect solar irradiation or panel efficiency, but extreme winds, such as those in cyclones, can pose a risk to the physical integrity of panels. However, modern installation techniques secure panels firmly to withstand such conditions.
Summary Table of Weather Effects on Bifacial Solar Panels
| Weather Condition | Impact on Bifacial Panels |
|---|---|
| Abundant Sunlight | Maximizes efficiency via front and rear side irradiation |
| High Reflectivity (Snow, Light Ground) | Increases rear side gain, can boost output by ~20% or more |
| Cloudy/Overcast | Reduced output, but bifacial panels retain more power than monofacial due to dual-sided capture |
| High Temperature | Efficiency decreases with heat; design adaptations necessary |
| Snow | Enhances efficiency via albedo and faster recovery post snowfalls |
| Shading | Significantly reduces rear side irradiance and overall output; avoid shading |
| Rain | No damage; rain cleans panels, helping maintain performance |
| Wind | No effect on power; extreme winds risk physical damage but installations are typically robust |
In conclusion, weather conditions like sunlight intensity, cloud cover, temperature, snow cover, shading, rain, and wind have nuanced effects on bifacial solar panel performance. Their ability to harness reflected light makes them more adaptable to varied conditions, particularly improving energy generation in cloudy and snowy environments compared to traditional panels. However, heat and shading remain challenges that can reduce their effectiveness if not properly managed.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-weather-conditions-impact-the-effectiveness-of-bifacial-solar-panels/
