Analysis of the Annual Performance of Bifacial Modules and Optimization Methods

Yusufoğlu, U.A.; Pletzer, T.M.; Koduvelikulathu, Lejo J.; Comparotto, Corrado; Kopecek, Radovan; Kurz, H.

doi:10.1109/jphotov.2014.2364406

Cited by 170 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The 50% bifacial gain for idealized standalone modules predicted by Cuevas et al [4], however, is not always achievable in practice; thus, some of the highly optimistic projections regarding technology adoption may not be realistic. For example, intrinsic non-idealities, such as selfshading, can reduce the bifacial gain to less than 10% [11]. Therefore, one can accurately assess the performance potential and economic viability of bifacial modules only after accounting for the intrinsic non-ideal factors (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Toward this goal, several groups have reported on the performance of south-north-facing, optimally tilted, standalone bifacial solar modules-both numerically [11]- [14] and experimentally [15], [16]. These studies have shown that the deployment (e.g., elevation, orientation) and the environment conditions (e.g., irradiance intensity, ground albedo) dictate the energy output of bifacial solar modules, and the synergistic effects of these factors ought to be accounted for when evaluating the performance of bifacial technologies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimization and performance of bifacial solar modules: A global perspective

et al. 2018

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With the rapidly growing interest in bifacial photovoltaics (PV), a worldwide map of their potential performance can help assess and accelerate the global deployment of this emerging technology. However, the existing literature only highlights optimized bifacial PV for a few geographic locations or develops worldwide performance maps for very specific configurations, such as the vertical installation. It is still difficult to translate these location-and configurationspecific conclusions to a general optimized performance of this technology. In this paper, we present a global study and optimization of bifacial solar modules using a rigorous and comprehensive modeling framework. Our results demonstrate that with a low albedo of 0.25, the bifacial gain of groundmounted bifacial modules is less than 10% worldwide. However, increasing the albedo to 0.5 and elevating modules 1 m above the ground can boost the bifacial gain to 30%. Moreover, we derive a set of empirical design rules, which optimize bifacial solar modules across the world, and provide the groundwork for rapid assessment of the location-specific performance. We find that ground-mounted, vertical, east-west-facing bifacial modules will outperform their south-north-facing, optimally tilted counterparts by up to 15% below the latitude of 30 o , for an albedo of 0.5. The relative energy output is reversed of this in latitudes above 30 o . A detailed and systematic comparison with data from Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America validates the model presented in this paper. An online simulation tool (https://nanohub.org/tools/pub) based on the model developed in this paper is also available for a user to predict and optimize bifacial modules in any arbitrary location across the globe.Here we will present four tables of global maps summarizing the optimization and performance (i.e., tilt angle, azimuth angle, annual energy yield, and bifacial gain) for a bifacial solar module with different deployment scenarios (i.e., elevation and albedo).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization and performance of bifacial solar modules: A global perspective

et al. 2018

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“…The bifacial gain is critically dependent on the uniformity of irradiance on the module backside (examples in ). For vertical facades, the section showed that the backside irradiance can be strongly non‐uniform if the module–reflector distance is very small.…”

Section: Influence Of Module Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

A study of the annual performance of bifacial photovoltaic modules in the case of vertical facade integration

Sória

Gerritsen

Lefillastre

et al. 2015

Energy Science & Engineering

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Despite the apparent benefits of bifacial modules, their application still suffers from a lack of visibility on the performance gain that they can actually provide. In this work, we consider the specific application of vertically oriented bifacial modules, notably for facade integration. We have developed a methodology to evaluate the annual electrical performance of bifacial modules based on three tools. First, a double illumination characterization setup is used in a solar simulator for comparing module architectures. Then, a reduced scale outdoor test bench allows us to evaluate bifacial module performance in a variety of configurations. Finally, a ray-tracing model validated with short-term outdoor data leads to the determination of the annual performance gain. This methodology allowed us to find optimal performance according to the most important parameters of application and module. Specifically, a module architecture using half-cut cells, a parallel cell interconnection, and textured glasses have been analyzed with respect to their influence on the resistive losses which increase in dual side illumination as well as to their influence on the effect of nonuniform and diffuse irradiance on the backside of the module. This work enabled us to give directions for innovative full-size module architectures. 53

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“…Typical module losses related to cell spacing are reduced to practically zero. The shingling concept in combination with bifacial solar cells would allow to further boost p out by making use of the additional albedo light impinging from the rear side [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bifacial shingle solar cells on p-type Cz-Si (pSPEER)

Baliozian

Lohmüller

Fellmeth

et al. 2018

AIP Conference Proceedings

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Abstract. The concepts of bifaciality and shingling interconnection allow for a boost in output power density pout for silicon-based photovoltaic modules. This work examines silicon-based, bifacial shingle solar cells called "p-type shingled passivated edge, emitter, and rear (pSPEER)". A specially designed shingle metallization layout on industrial 6-inch p-type Czochralski-grown silicon precursors is contact fired to obtain the host wafer. Six pSPEER cells each of an area of 23 mm x 148 mm are obtained by a newly integrated thermal laser separation step, leaving a very smooth edge for the singulated pSPEER cells. The peak front side output power density is pout,f = 20.8 mW/cm 2 (equivalent to a peak energy conversion efficiency  = 20.8% under standard test conditions). A total output power density pout = 21.9 mW/cm 2 is attained by assuming an additional rear irradiance of 100 W/m².

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Analysis of the Annual Performance of Bifacial Modules and Optimization Methods

Cited by 170 publications

References 13 publications

Optimization and performance of bifacial solar modules: A global perspective

Optimization and performance of bifacial solar modules: A global perspective

A study of the annual performance of bifacial photovoltaic modules in the case of vertical facade integration

Bifacial shingle solar cells on p-type Cz-Si (pSPEER)

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