As solar technology progresses, we will see new breakthroughs and revitalize some old ideas.
The latter is currently happening with bifacial solar panels.
Bifacial solar PV modules hit the industry in the 1960s. Still, they emerged again over the past five years, thanks to passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) technology.
With PERC’s capabilities, bifacial solar panels can potentially be a serious player in our current market. So what are the benefits of bifacial solar panels?
What are bifacial solar panels?
Bifacial technology collects solar radiation from both sides of the panel. Most panels, monocrystalline, polycrystalline, etc., only collect radiation from the panel’s front side. They are considered monofacial. Traditionally, monofacial panels would have to face a particular direction or be attached to a passive or active tracking system to get the most sunlight possible.
Bifacial offsets the need for those practices and technologies, becoming a better method for installers and owners. Now tracking is still being used with bifacial solar panels to improve production by 60% or more, but it’s not a requirement.
Bifacial solar panels come in many designs, such as framed and frameless, dual-glass, transparent back sheets, etc. The idea is to expose the monocrystalline solar cells to sunlight on both sides of the panel. This way, the panels absorb both direct and indirect sunlight, and the photons can start the photovoltaic effect inside solar cells.
The ground having a high albedo, or reflectivity, will assist with the harnessing of more indirect light. Bifacial panels can be installed at a 35° – 45° angle out in the open or on a flat roof and produce increased amounts of energy. This depends on the wind in your area and the engineering required for a higher tilt; the higher the tilt, the more strength the substructure needs to hold. The higher off the ground, the more it will produce, so we find a financial balance.
Benefits of Bifacial Solar Panels
The cutting-edge technology of bifacial solar panels delivers impressive advantages compared to conventional monofacial panels.
Capitalizing on sunlight absorption from both sides, these panels provide enhanced energy production, superior efficiency, and improved financial gains.
Key benefits of bifacial solar PV:
- More sunlight to absorb – the design of the bifacial system is to absorb more sunlight that bounces from all objects reflectively.
- Cloudy days production – bifacial can be productive on cloudy days with more sunlight absorbed. Also, bifacial panels are durable to sustain harsh weather conditions compared to conventional solar panel systems.
- Better energy peaks a day – with tracking systems installed, the bifacial panel systems can get both east and west sunray that can achieve two energy peaks a day.
Research and analysis studies show that bifacial solar panels are more efficient by 10 – 20% more than monofacial. If you add a single-axis tracker, that power production goes up to 15-25%.
Option One Solar specializes in ground-mount solar and carport solar energy systems. With the additional power generated from bifacial panels, homeowners can expect higher energy generation with fewer panels for their system designs.
How does the bifacial solar system help owners?
Well, with increased production, your ROI will be faster and a lot higher. This benefit reduces the payback period; afterward, the investment rewards are higher.
The Wood Mackenzie Consultancy predicts bifacial modules will account for 17% of the global market for solar panels in 2024. That’s a large amount, which means more investment into the technology to make it better and easier to produce, leading to a lower cost for buyers. Now you are getting more money, higher production to meet your energy demand, and less upfront cost for the technology. That’s a win-win-win scenario for all users of bifacial energy.
Furthermore, cost analyses show that installations for bifacial panels cost are on par with higher monofacial. If you install a tracking system for a commercial solar project, your system will cost around 15% more than a monofacial PV.
That may sound bad, but remember, the bifacial solar PV system will require up to 40% fewer modules, with a net 25% less cost. The yield of bifacial energy can be above 20%, up to almost 60%, with optimized conditions using trackers. With proven results like these, bifacial panels become the best friends of owners with flat roofs or fields to put their PV arrays.
Read more:
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Where To Go for Bifacial Solar Energy
In SoCal, there is only one place to get your Tier 1 bifacial solar panels, and that’s Option One Solar. These professionals have been in business since 1979 and have been installing bifacial modules since 2013. They are well aware of analyzing your site to achieve:
- The best solar radiation location with the highest albedo potential
- The best tilt, panel height, and row distance
- Install the best inverter and tracking equipment for commercial solar projects to maximize your energy production.
Known for its electrical expertise, high-quality installations, and customer service, Option One Solar provides residential and commercial solar clients with the most reliable and best-performing solar packages available. We only use high-quality solar panels from companies like Hyundai, Canadian, and Trina, which are also on top of the list for bifacial panels.
We are experts in solar installations and strive to lead the way in bifacial energy as well.
Our vision is to “Introduce and install the world’s best and most reliable solar systems, with the highest levels of installation quality and customer service, at a fair price.”
We offer all our customers a host of tailored solutions, the most flexible financial options, and unparalleled customer service that helps residential and commercial solar customers make well-informed decisions. If you are wondering if a bifacial system is right for you, we can guide you through the whole process.
