Bifacial Photovoltaic Panels Research Articles

Design and simulation of a photovoltaic plant for maximum use of the solar resource in the Toluviejo municipality of Colombia

Currently, there are various technologies for constructing photovoltaic plants including monofacial and bifacial photovoltaic panels, centralized and string-type inverters, and fixed mounting structures with light followers, to build electrical energy generation systems. This work reviewed the advantages and disadvantages between these technologies, and the implementation of a photovoltaic plant in Toluviejo, Colombia was proposed. To justify and confirm the design, simulations were carried out with the PVsyst software, resulting in the bifacial panels, centralized inverters, and structures with light followers, the most effective solution, and with the highest production for the proposed photovoltaic power generation plant.

Supporting strategy for investment evaluation of photovoltaic power generation engineering projects using multi-criteria decision analysis methods

This scientific study examines the evaluation of photovoltaic power generation projects through the application of multi-criteria decision analysis methods. Two groups of large-scale grid-connected PV power generation system projects with a nominal power of 50 MW and 500 MW respectively were analyzed and evaluated. These systems were designed to be installed in the same wider geographical area in northern Greece, but they were differentiated in the part of the PV circuit. Twelve systems were analyzed in which either monocrystalline silicon panels or poly-crystalline silicon panels or bifacial photovoltaic panels were to be installed. In these systems either central photovoltaic inverters or photovoltaic string inverters were considered for installation. The following criteria were used to evaluate the investment in these projects. These criteria were related to the profitability, the financial cost, the technical level, and the electrical energy production of the systems and these were the initial investment cost, the operation and maintenance cost, the levelized cost of electricity, the net present value, the internal rate of return, the capital recovery or payback period, the technical level of the photovoltaic circuit, the technical maturity of the photovoltaic circuit, and the annual electricity production. The evaluation of these criteria was initially conducted with fixed weighting coefficients followed by a sensitivity analysis of these weighting coefficients. The results of the evaluation using the PROMETHEE, AHP and TOPSIS multi-criteria decision analysis methods showed that the PV power generation systems which should be preferred are those with increased nominal power, where monocrystalline silicon technology panels are employed following the central inverter topology.

Análise de implementação de painéis fotovoltaicos bifaciais em residências

Análise de implementação de painéis fotovoltaicos bifaciais em residências

Vertical Agrivoltaics System on Arable Crops in Central France: Feedback of the First Year of Operation

Since the development of Agrivoltaics with panels placed above the plants, a new system is tested with vertical mounted bifacial photovoltaic panels, of which we present the results of the first year of two experimental sites. Such installations bring a lower shading level on the plant compared to fixed tilt or single axis tracking systems and could potentially suit fields with crops having low demands of shading. However, unlike more standard PV systems, few studies have detailed the effects of such devices on field crops. In this first experimental year, bifacial vertically mounted PV system showed interesting results with a stable or even a slight increase in annual crop yields. Also, harvest quality indicators are maintained or present favorable evolution indicating a high potential of vertical PV systems for Agrivoltaics.

Impact of bi-facial PV panels’ presence as the novel option on the energy management and scheduling of the interconnected grids: Comprehensive outlook

This study examines the effect of novel photovoltaic (PV) panels called bi-facial PV on the energy planning and management of the proposed interconnected grid. Dual buildings are assumed to be different applications interacting with each other and the upstream network. Various renewable and non-renewable energy resources are considered, including CHP, boiler, wind turbine (WT), and electrical and thermal energy storage. The goal is to minimize multi-objective functions of total cost and contamination simultaneously. Bi-facial PV panels can also receive reflected light from the environment (depending on various albedo), resulting in an additional 20 % growth in produced power. The problem is formulated as the mixed integer linear programming (MILP) and solved in GAMS software by CPLEX solver. The optimization problem is solved by using epsilon constraints method and fuzzy satisfying approach. In order to reach accurate results, the diverse demands of the proposed buildings and renewable-based units’ obtainable power are calculated using Energy Plus and Design Builder software. The study represents two scenarios in which mono-facial and bi-facial planning are exerted. The final results show that a 20 % increase in produced power significantly impacts the exchangeable power between buildings and the upstream network, leading to a noticeable cost reduction. Furthermore, it depicts a slight change in overall pollution.

Evaluating the real-world performance of vertically installed bifacial photovoltaic panels in residential settings: empirical findings and implications

Abstract This research examines the extended performance of vertically positioned bifacial photovoltaic (BiPV) panels in actual environmental settings, considering various factors such as solar irradiance and the random surrounding structures. Two bifacial photovoltaic panel systems connected to the grid are set up on the roof of a residential structure. The first system consisted of seven panels installed at a tilt angle of 27o, facing south. The second system comprises seven vertically installed panels facing west. A data acquisition system was employed to continuously monitor and record the electrical parameters of both systems. To quantify the performance of the systems, specific metric parameters, like the yearly energy output and the specific yield of the systems, are computed. The findings reveal that the vertically installed BiPV panels can achieve an energy yield as high as 100% compared with the tilted installation in certain months. Furthermore, the vertical installation demonstrated inherent anti-soiling properties akin to self-cleaning. Additionally, the vertical installation exhibited a multiple peak phenomenon, which could potentially alleviate the peak load issues on the electrical grid. The vertical installation also exhibited an exceptional ground coverage ratio, making it an attractive solution for space-constrained applications. The vertical installation exhibited a ~ 1678 kWh/kWp performance ratio, retaining ~82% of the tilted installation energy yield. The results underscore the feasibility and advantages of employing vertically installed bifacial photovoltaic panels in residential settings, particularly in limited areas. Moreover, the study provides insights into the viability and potential of this technology for small-scale residential applications.

Correction to: Evaluating the real-world performance of vertically installed bifacial photovoltaic panels in residential settings: empirical findings and implications

Correction to: Evaluating the real-world performance of vertically installed bifacial photovoltaic panels in residential settings: empirical findings and implications

A Tri-port DC-DC Converter for Bifacial PV Panels Coupled with Energy Storage

Abstract The power output of photovoltaic (PV) systems, especially bifacial modules, varies due to daily fluctuations in irradiance and temperature. Maximising the efficiency and power extraction are considered crucial. Hybrid DC off-grid topologies are highly promising for rural electrification with solar energy and battery backup. These systems, tailored for household appliance use, feature low semiconductor count, continuous current ports for PV, battery and DC loads, low-voltage levels for PV and battery, voltage regulation for DC loads, maximum power point tracking (MPPT), proper battery charging and discharging, high-voltage boosting without low-frequency transformers and reduced power converter stages. However, the existing schemes often lack the above-mentioned critical features. Hence, this paper proposes a novel three-switch tri-port converter with integrated energy storage for stand-alone bifacial PV applications, with modelling and experimental validation. The battery serves as an energy storage component, regulating the DC link voltage for consistency. This paper underscores PV system power optimisation and introduces a novel tri-port converter for stand-alone bifacial PV setups, emphasising energy storage’s role in voltage regulation.

A Fast and Accurate Raytracing Approach for Assessing Photovoltaic Performance of Monoand Bifacial Panels in Complex Irradiance Conditions

Numerous tools exist for evaluating photovoltaic (PV) system performance, these include design parameters and complexity that can deter non-specialist users. To facilitate wider adoption of PV technology in early-phase design, we present an approach that combines advanced raytracing integrated into the widely used building modelling tool Rhino 3D. This toolset includes models for both monoand bifacial PV panels, that process raytraced results and account for realistic heat loss and thermally dependent efficiency. Validation against measurements as well as comparison with industry standard PVsyst software in two urban scenarios, confirms the toolset's acceptable accuracy. A case study of agricultural PV showcases the tools versatility and running time. The user-friendly interface and advanced radiation modelling capabilities empower both specialists and non-specialists to assess PV system performance accurately and efficiently during the early design phases.

Enhancing the Efficiency of Bi-Facial Photovoltaic Panels: An Integration Approach

This work presents a novel approach to increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels by integrating them with a cooling tower (CT). An infusion of water cools the hot, dry ambient air at the top of the CT. Due to gravity, the cooled air drops toward the base of the CT, where it interacts with a turbine placed at the bottom of the CT to produce electricity. The air then exits the CT base, creating a cooled air jet stream. The PV panels were placed at the base of the CT, right at the stream’s exit. As the cooled air passes underneath the PV panels, it exchanges energy with the PV, reducing the panels’ temperature. The results showed that the maximum annual efficiency improvement (6.831%) was observed using two rows of PV panels. The efficiency declined incrementally from 6.831% to 4.652% when the number of rows of PV panels was increased from two to twelve. The results also showed a significant improvement in the temperature of the PV panels. The best results were obtained at noon (maximum ambient temperature), where the solar panel temperature was lowered to 25 °C from 55 °C. Furthermore, the annual electrical energy generated with two rows of panels was 39,207.4 kWh without the CT, compared to 41,768.2 kWh with the CT. In addition, the results showed that with a 10 m diameter and 200 m height CT, the maximum number of PV rows that can be effectively cooled is 24. Future work will investigate integrating additional techniques to improve the system’s efficiency further.

Dust deposition mechanism and output characteristics of solar bifacial PV panels.

The utilization of solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation represents a highly promising technological solution for addressing environmental challenges and energy crises. Dust deposition on the front and back surfaces of solar bifacial PV panels greatly decreases the optical performance and power generation. In this study, the dust deposition characteristics and mechanism of solar bifacial PV panels are investigated using the CFD-DEM method. The effects of the dust deposition rate on the output characteristics of bifacial PV panels are discussed. The research results show that the particle deposition behaviors on the back and front surfaces of bifacial PV panels are influenced by the deposition and separation forces at the left or right inlets. The dust deposition rate of windward surfaces can be 1.48-7.60 times that of the leeward surfaces of bifacial PV panels. The particle motion trajectories on the windward and leeward sides can be mainly divided into five and three kinds, respectively. The dust deposition rate of bifacial PV panels increases when the air inlet velocity decreases and the particle size and concentration and relative humidity increase. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current of bifacial PV panels decreased by 26.7% and 16.4%, respectively, when the dust deposition rate increases by 45.8%. The attenuation rate of the maximum output power of PV panels has a positive linear correlation with the dust deposition rate, as shown in Eq. 22. The bifacial PV panels have better output characteristics than the mono-facial PV panels with consideration of dust deposition.

Optimization of electricity consumption in an industrial zone with a battery system: a case study of Ikitelli industrial zone in Turkey

Industrial power use is considerably high in Turkey. In the case of industrial zones, the three-time tariff is more economical for the owners. However, in industrial zones with considerably high energy consumption during peak hours, an alternative way is needed to reduce electricity costs. A battery-powered model was developed earlier in order to take advantage of the three-time tariff and to reduce the electric charge during peak hours. In this study, the aim was to reduce the power utility costs of industrial consumption and to mitigate CO2 emissions for businesses with high electricity costs by using solar energy. A mixed-integer optimization model was constructed as a combination of solar panels and a battery system to minimize the peak-hour grid-connected energy consumption in industrial zones. Using the consumption data from 2018, a model was implemented for a case study in İkitelli Industrial Zone in terms of 24-h scheduling. Three different alternative energy combination scenarios were studied: a monofacial PV (photovoltaic) panel system with batteries, a bifacial PV panel system with batteries, and electricity received from the grid only at the night tariff. This study found that a combined method could minimize the grid usage during peak hours.

Monofacial and Bifacial Photovoltaics Systems with Uniaxial Solar Tracking

The technology behind Bifacial Photovoltaic systems has existed for a long time but only recently gained popularity due to the increased surface area for the absorption of solar radiation by the rear-side of the bifacial Photovoltaic (PV) panel. The bifacial gain and output energy yield (kWh) is affected negatively by self-shading leading to non-uniformity in the absorbed irradiance. The purpose of this research is to simulate and investigate the effect of varying parameters including the elevation of a bifacial PV module from 0.5 m to 1.0 m with a step size of 0.1 m and its effect on the absorbed irradiance and subsequent output energy yield (kWh). Uniaxial solar tracking combined with varying the elevation is implemented by positioning the bifacial PV system in an East-West orientation with an azimuth angle of +90° (facing East); this follows the sun’s hourly elevation angle and path throughout the day. Three albedo of values 0.2 which represents grass, 0.6 which represents fresh white concrete and an ideal albedo of 0.99 is combined with the variation in elevation of the bifacial PV module and is further analysed and compared with a monofacial PV module. Simulation results from TracePro show that East-West tracking reduces the Incident angle closer to 0° which results in higher Flux (W) collected by the surface, except for time intervals at 8:00:00 AM and 18:00:00 PM where the sun is located furthest away from the model. The energy yield (kWh) of the bifacial PV panel first increases sharply from an elevation of 0.5 m to 0.8 m where a peak value of 4748.8 kWh is observed, followed by a drop in energy yield (kWh) at 0.9 m and saturation at 1.0 m; hence the elevation parameter of 0.8 m is determined to be the point of inflection. The BGE at 1 m has a significant value of 0.302 which translates to 30.2% in bifacial gain. The largest difference in energy yield (kWh) is observed to be 1114.55 kWh (30.67% increase) at 0.8 m; the bifacial PV module greatly outperforms the monofacial PV module at this elevation in the uniaxial solar tracking system and is determined to be the optimal value.

Performance assessment of double pass photovoltaic/thermal solar air collector using bifacial PV with CPC and mirror reflector under Malaysian climate

The performance of photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) type solar collectors can be optimised with the use of bifacial photovoltaic panel since it can utilise the absorbed incident solar irradiance from its front and rear surface. However, its potential is highly determined by the amount of the reflected solar irradiance onto the rear surface of the panel. In this research, we assessed the potential of a novel double pass photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar air collector using semi-transparent bifacial PV panel with compound parabolic concentrator and mirror reflector in Malaysia. The use of CPC and reflector was introduced to increase the amount of reflected light and hence increasing the efficiency of the collector. A mathematical model was developed, and validated o predict the performance of the solar collector. Using the validated mathematical model, the optimum mass flow rate of the bifacial PV/T collector with CPC and mirror reflector was found at 0.0589 kg/s. At this flow rate, when operated under the hot climate of Malaysia, the temperature output of as high as 51 °C is achievable implying its potential as a preheated air to regenerate desiccant materials in solar assisted cooling system and for agriculture drying application. Also, when compared with the bifacial PV/T solar collector without the CPC, the total energy useful was found almost 40% higher.

An Accurate Model for Bifacial Photovoltaic Panels

Recently, there has been increasing concerns over bifacial PV (BPV) modules over the conventional monofacial PV (MPV) modules owing to their potential to add extra electrical energy from their rear-side irradiance. However, adding the rear-side irradiance to the front-side irradiance results in the increased nonlinearity of the BPV modules compared to MPV modules. Such nonlinearity makes the conventional methods unable to accurately extract the BPV module parameters. In this context, the precise determination of the BPV module parameters is a crucial issue for establishing energy yield estimations and for the proper planning of BPV installations as well. This paper proposes a new model for the BPV modules based on the MPV modeling, in which a new parameter is added to the MPV model to adjust the value of the model series resistance in order to provide a generic model for BPV modules in both monofacial and bifacial operating regions. Moreover, a new determination method for optimizing BPV model parameters using the recently developed enhanced version of the success-history-based adaptive differential evolution (SHADE) algorithm with linear population size reduction, known as the LSHADE method, is applied. The determination process of the model parameters is adapted using a two-stage optimization scheme to model the full operating range of BPV modules. The accuracy of the obtained parameters using the proposed model is compared with the conventional single-diode and double-diode models of the BPV. The obtained results using the proposed model of the BPV module show the performance superiority and accuracy of the LSHADE method over the existing methods in the literature. Furthermore, the LSHADE method provides the successful and accurate extraction of the global optimized parameters to model MPV and BPV modules. Therefore, the proposed method can provide an accurate model for the whole operating range of BPV that would be beneficial for further studies of their economic and technical feasibility for wide installation plans.

Çift Yüzlü Fotovoltaik Panellerin Farklı Zemin Koşullarında Performansının İncelenmesi

Photovoltaic (PV) panels are generally used for monofacial applications due to the back surface coating materials. When the coating material is transparent, it is defined as bi-facial PV. In this study, the variable albedo effects on bi-facial PVs in different ground conditions were examined. The results were compared with monofacial PV panels in the same conditions for the Konya region. Bifacial PV panels were analyzed under white, sand, and asphalt ground conditions. Simulations were made by the PVsyst program, and the results were compared by global radiation value, the performance ratio (PR), and the produced energy results. An installed capacity of 54,6 kWp bifacial and monofacial PV panels with a horizontal angle of 35°, azimuth angle of 0°, and 6m intervals for roof installation is considered. It has been observed that the yearly total solar radiation value of 1969 kWh/m² occurs on the monofacial PV, which is higher as 6,4% for the white ground, 2,4% for the sand ground, and 0,8% for the asphalt ground conditions. The annual energy generated in the Konya region is calculated as 91,197 MWh, 94,404 MWh, and 97,730 MWh for asphalt, sand, and white ground conditions. It was only 105,690 MWh for monofacial PV panels. It has been determined that the performance ratio of the system in June, which is one of the months of the highest radiation occurred, 7,0% higher than the sand ground conditions, 10,4% compared to the asphalt ground, and 14,5% higher than the monofacial photovoltaic system. It was evaluated that the ground conditions of the bi-facial panels contributed significantly to the panel efficiency and performance ratio and could be applied with a small investment cost compared to the project's total cost.

Reliability Analysis of Bifacial PV Panel-Based Inverters Considering the Effect of Geographical Location

Recent trends in the photovoltaic (PV) technology industry are moving towards utilizing bifacial PV panels. Unlike traditional PV panels, bifacial PV panels can yield energy from both sides of the panel. Manufacturers specify that bifacial PV panels can harness up to 30% more energy than traditional PV panels. Hence, bifacial PV panels are becoming a common approach at low solar irradiance conditions to yield more energy. However, a bifacial PV panel increases PV inverter loading. The PV inverter is the most unreliable component in the entire PV system. This results in a negative impact on PV system reliability and cost. Hence, it is necessary to anticipate the inverter’s reliability when used in bifacial PV panels. This paper analyzes the reliability, i.e., lifetime, of PV inverters, considering both monofacial and bifacial PV panels for the analysis. Results showed that the increase in bifacial energy yield could significantly affect PV inverter reliability performance, especially in locations where the average mission profile is relatively high.

Rear Side Solar Radiation Model of Bifacial Photovoltaic Module for Equatorial zone

Many models are available to simulate the solar radiation incident on monofacial photovoltaic panels but these models cannot be used to evaluate the radiation incident on a bifacial photovoltaic panel as it does not consider the bifacial gain due to ground reflection and diffuse sky radiation. In this paper an optical model was developed to measure the global solar irradiance on front and rear side of a bifacial photovoltaic module. The bifacial gain at the rear surface is modelled by considering the diffuse sky radiation and reflected component of light from ground and nearby surfaces. An optimised model is developed for Equatorial zone for maximum bifacial gain considering tilt and shading parameters. A comparative study on annual gain for the bifacial module compared to monofacial module also done for the topical latitude zone.

Value of bifacial photovoltaics used with highly reflective ground materials on single‐axis trackers and fixed‐tilt systems: a Danish case study

The energy produced by bifacial photovoltaic (PV) arrays can be augmented via albedo enhancements. However, the value of the additional energy must outweigh the costs for such modifications to be economically viable. In this work, the electrical performance and economic value of six 13 kWp crystalline-silicon (c-Si) PV arrays with distinct configurations are evaluated. The system designs include horizontal single axis trackers (HSAT) and 25° fixed-tilt structures, monofacial and bifacial PV panels, and low and high ground albedo. The value of the system designs is assessed using onsite electrical measurements and spot prices from the Nord Pool electricity market. We find that HSAT systems increase the annual value factor (VF) by 4% and decrease levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by 3.5 EUR/MWh relative to fixed-tilt systems. The use of bifacial panels can increase the VF by 1% and decrease LCOE by 4.0 EUR/MWh. However, a negligible VF increase and modest LCOE decrease was found in systems with bifacial panels and ground albedo enhancements. Although our results show that albedo enhancements result in lower LCOE than designs without, the uncertainty in upfront and ongoing costs of altering the ground in utility-scale PV parks makes the solution presently unadvisable.

Efficiency of Solar Trackers and Bifacial Photovoltaic Panels for Southern Regions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan

Efficiency of Solar Trackers and Bifacial Photovoltaic Panels for Southern Regions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan