If you're looking to buy bifacial solar panel technology for a new solar installation, you may be wondering what makes bifacial modules different from traditional solar panels. Bifacial technology has become increasingly popular because it can capture sunlight from both the front and rear of the module.
This allows a solar system to potentially generate more electricity from the same installation area, making bifacial panels an interesting option for residential, commercial and large-scale solar projects.
What Are Bifacial Solar Panels?
Bifacial solar panels are photovoltaic modules designed to generate electricity from sunlight reaching both sides of the panel.
Traditional monofacial panels primarily use the front surface to capture sunlight. Bifacial modules can also use light reaching the rear of the panel, allowing them to make use of reflected and scattered sunlight from the surrounding environment.
This additional light can contribute to the panel's overall electricity production.
How Do Bifacial Solar Panels Work?
The basic photovoltaic process is similar to that of a conventional solar panel.
When sunlight reaches the photovoltaic cells, the cells convert the light into electrical energy. With a bifacial panel, the rear side can also receive sunlight and contribute to electricity generation.
Light can reach the rear of the module after reflecting from surfaces such as:
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Light-coloured ground
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Concrete
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Gravel
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Reflective roofing
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Snow
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Other suitable surfaces
The more useful light that reaches the rear of the panel, the greater the potential for additional energy generation.
What Is Bifacial Gain?
The additional electricity produced from the rear side of a bifacial module is commonly known as bifacial gain.
Bifacial gain isn't a fixed amount. It varies depending on the installation and surrounding environment.
Factors that can influence bifacial gain include:
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Surface reflectivity
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Panel height
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Panel spacing
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Tilt angle
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Orientation
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Shading
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Local sunlight conditions
This means the same bifacial panel can produce different results depending on where and how it is installed.
Why Are Bifacial Panels Becoming More Popular?
One of the main advantages of bifacial technology is the potential to increase electricity generation without simply adding more panels.
By capturing light from both sides, a well-designed system can make better use of the sunlight available around the installation.
This can be particularly useful for ground-mounted and commercial solar projects where the mounting system and panel layout can be designed to maximise rear-side exposure.
Where Can Bifacial Solar Panels Be Used?
Bifacial panels are suitable for a variety of solar applications.
Ground-Mounted Solar
Ground-mounted installations can provide favourable conditions for bifacial panels because the modules can be elevated above the ground, allowing reflected light to reach the rear.
Commercial Solar
Commercial solar systems can also benefit from bifacial technology, particularly when the mounting structure provides sufficient rear-side exposure.
Solar Car Parks
Solar car parks use elevated structures, potentially allowing sunlight to reach both sides of the modules.
Residential Solar
Bifacial panels can also be installed on homes, although their potential additional generation depends on the roof surface, panel elevation and mounting arrangement.
Bifacial vs Monofacial Panels
The main difference between the technologies is straightforward.
Monofacial solar panels: Primarily generate electricity from the front.
Bifacial solar panels: Generate electricity from the front and can also generate additional electricity from light reaching the rear.
However, bifacial panels won't necessarily produce significantly more energy in every installation. If the rear of the panel receives very little useful light, the additional generation may be relatively small.
What Should You Consider Before You Buy?
If you're planning to buy bifacial solar panel equipment, don't focus only on the panel's wattage.
Important specifications to compare include:
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Power rating
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Module efficiency
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Bifaciality factor
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Panel dimensions
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Product warranty
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Performance warranty
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Degradation rate
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Temperature coefficient
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Mounting requirements
You should also check that the panels are compatible with your chosen inverter and mounting system.
Does Installation Affect Performance?
Yes. Installation design can have a major impact on bifacial performance.
A panel installed close to a dark surface may receive very little reflected light from behind. An elevated panel over a more reflective surface can provide much better conditions for rear-side generation.
Panel spacing and shading should also be considered when designing the system.
Are Bifacial Panels Right for You?
Bifacial solar panels can be an excellent option for installations where the rear of the modules has good access to useful light.
However, they're not automatically the best choice for every project. The installation conditions, expected energy generation and total system cost should all be considered before purchasing.
A professional solar assessment can help determine whether bifacial technology is suitable for your particular project.
Conclusion
Bifacial solar panels offer a modern approach to solar generation by allowing photovoltaic cells to capture sunlight from both the front and rear of the module.
When installed in suitable conditions, they can potentially produce additional electricity and make better use of available sunlight.
If you're planning to buy bifacial solar panel equipment, understanding how the technology works is the first step towards choosing the right solution.
In the next article in this series, we'll look at how much energy bifacial technology can generate and the factors that influence its performance.
