Computer simulation of enhanced output from bifacial photovoltaic modules

Abstract

AbstractA bifacial photovoltaic module can collect not only the light falling directly on its front but also light incident on its rear after reflection from natural surroundings, called the albedo reflection, and light scattered from the sky itself. the benefits of such bifacial response are analysed by modifying a standard computer photovoltaic simulation software package (PVFORM version 3.3). Results obtained from computer simulation and field experiments show that, without any special features, there is about a 20% increase in the total annual energy generated by a bifacial panel compared to a monofacial panel. There are also summer peaks caused by the morning and evening light falling directly on the rear side of the panel. This means that the bifacial panel allows extended operation during summer. There is also a slightly smaller reduction in relative output power for the bifacial module on cloudy days.