Increased Energy Production Efficiency
- Bifacial Gain: Double-glass bifacial solar panels can capture sunlight on both the front and rear sides. The rear glass absorbs reflected light from the ground or surroundings, boosting overall energy yield by approximately 2% to 5% compared to traditional single-glass, glass-backsheet modules.
- High Reflectivity Environments: This efficiency gain is especially notable in environments with highly reflective surfaces like white roofs, snow, or light-colored ground, where the back side of the panel can utilize reflected solar radiation.
Enhanced Durability and Stability
- Robustness: The use of glass on both sides makes these panels more durable and resilient to environmental stressors such as wind, snow loads, temperature fluctuations, and harsh weather conditions. This directly supports stable long-term performance, which sustains energy production efficiency over time.
- Reduced Hot Spots: Double-glass modules exhibit a lower likelihood of hot spot formation due to better heat dissipation through the glass backsheet and segmented cell design reducing heat generation, which further enhances operational stability and panel longevity.
- Resistance to Potential-Induced Degradation (PID): Double-glass panels are virtually immune to PID, a key degradation mode that can reduce efficiency in conventional modules. This resistance helps maintain higher energy yields over their extended lifespans.
Extended Lifespan and Reliability
The double-glass design extends the photovoltaic system’s lifetime, often supporting warranties up to 30 years. This longevity ensures sustained energy production efficiency, reducing the overall levelized cost of electricity from the system.
Summary Table
| Feature | Effect on Energy Production Efficiency |
|---|---|
| Bifacial light absorption | 2% to 5% increase in energy yield via rear-side light capture |
| Enhanced durability | Stable operation under extreme weather, maintaining efficiency |
| Reduced hot spot formation | Improved heat dissipation, reducing efficiency losses |
| PID resistance | Maintains efficiency by preventing degradation |
| Extended system lifespan | Long-term sustained energy output |
In conclusion, the double-glass construction of bifacial solar panels boosts energy production efficiency primarily through bifacial light capture and improves reliability and durability, which preserves this efficiency over a longer operational life. This makes double-glass bifacial modules particularly well-suited for high-reflectivity environments and challenging installation conditions, ensuring better returns on solar investments.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-double-glass-construction-affect-the-energy-production-efficiency-of-bifacial-solar-panels/
