Bifacial solar panels offer several distinct benefits compared to traditional monofacial panels, primarily due to their ability to capture sunlight on both their front and back sides. Here are the key advantages:
Increased Energy Production
- Bifacial panels typically produce 5-30% more electricity than traditional solar panels by harvesting reflected and diffuse light from both sides, significantly boosting total energy yield.
- Studies have shown that in optimal conditions, such as installations with reflective surfaces (high albedo environments like snow or white rooftops), production gains can reach 10-20%, and even 30-40% when paired with tracking systems that optimize panel angles towards the sun.
Better Low-Light and Diffuse Light Performance
- They perform better under diffuse lighting conditions, such as cloudy days or morning and evening hours, thus extending their daily operational time and improving overall energy capture.
Enhanced Durability and Longevity
- Bifacial panels typically feature double-glass construction, with solar cells encapsulated between tempered glass layers on both sides. This design offers superior durability against harsh weather, UV exposure, high temperatures, and mechanical impacts, resulting in longer lifespans and typically extended warranties compared to conventional panels.
- Their frameless or minimal-frame designs can also reduce potential points of failure and are robust against environmental wear.
Space-Efficiency and Versatility
- Due to their higher energy output per panel, bifacial modules can generate more power in the same footprint, making them ideal for installations where space is limited.
- They are flexible in terms of installation types, suitable for ground mounts, rooftops, carports, and environments that can maximize reflected light.
- The mounting systems for bifacial panels are designed to minimize shading on the back side, optimizing energy capture from reflected light.
Potential for Lower Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)
- By generating more energy without proportionally increasing the number of panels or land used, bifacial modules can reduce the overall cost of energy produced over the system’s lifetime, improving return on investment.
In summary, bifacial solar panels combine higher energy output, better performance under variable lighting, durable construction, and space efficiency, making them a compelling choice for enhancing solar power generation efficiency and reliability. Their benefits are especially pronounced in locations with reflective ground surfaces and when used in conjunction with tracking systems.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-bifacial-modules-in-solar-panels/
