Development and challenges of bifacial photovoltaic technology and application in buildings: A review

Abstract

Bifacial photovoltaic (bPV) modules can both obtain the front and rear light to get higher power output, which has attracted extensive attention and is expected to substitute for mono-facial photovoltaic technology (mPV). The bPV technology has always been developing with new technologies and applications constantly emerging. However, there is little review on bPV technology applied in buildings. The current reviews mainly focus on the principle and performance research of bPV technology. This work focuses on reviewing the application status of bPV technology in buildings, which aims to contribute to the large-scale application of bPV technology in buildings and reduce building energy problems. The latest innovative development of bPV technology and the key issues in the application of bPV technology in buildings were summarized and analyzed. For the further development of bPV technology, research on battery materials and structures is beneficial for improving the utilization rate of light at different wavelengths. For the building application of bPV technology, the issue of uneven irradiation of the rear side is a key factor hindering the large-scale application of bPV in buildings, and the use of back reflectors can effectively alleviate this problem.