A new predictive model for the design and evaluation of bifacial photovoltaic plants under the influence of vegetation soils

Abstract

The rapid expansion of photovoltaics within the global energy market requires increasing use of land, a limited resource where different uses compete. In this respect, photovoltaic systems that combine electricity generation with land use for crops are becoming increasingly important. This article proposes an analytical model validated in an operating bifacial photovoltaic plant during the summer months. This analytical model considers view factors and heat transfer calculations, as well as an electrical model of the photovoltaic modules. A study was carried out on a commercial solar power plant (11.24 MWp) in Seville, southern Spain, where different vegetal species were planted in two strings, and string performance was monitored. Nine crop species with different irrigation and light requirements, offering different albedo parameters and thermal characteristics. The results show advantages from the point of view of module temperature and power gain. This paper provides regressions for the characterisation of the photovoltaic agricultural plant, with R2 higher than 85%, both for module temperature and energy exported in the string with crops.