After continuous efforts, scientists have figured out a new method for improving the efficiency of double-sided solar panels aiming to make them a viable long-term renewable energy source. As the name suggests, bifacial solar panels absorb sunlight from both sides of the panels and thus can efficiently generate up to 35% more electricity in comparison to one-sided solar panels. And thus, bifacial photovoltaic systems are slated to boost production in the near future by a big margin.
To accurately measure the energy generated by double-sided solar panels, researchers from the University of Ottawa came up with a new method by taking the external effects of the ground cover into account. This will allow for enhancing performance by design optimization and further increasing solar panel deployment to non-traditional markets.
Professor Karin Hinzer, founder of SUNLAB said, “it is a particularly important method as renewable energy penetration increases towards a net-zero world with bifacial photovoltaic cells projected to contribute over 16% of the global energy supply by 2050 or around 30,000 TWH annually”. It is rumored to enable accurate comparison of application-specific optimization, standardization of bifacial panel power ratings, and different bifacial panel technologies. Similar studies have been published in a research paper titled “A general illumination method to predict bifacial photovoltaic system performance” in the reputed scientific journal Joule in January 2023.
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For those, who still can’t believe that bifacial photovoltaic systems will boost production in the near future, here are a few notable advantages to rest your disbelief:
- They are more durable as both sides are UV resistant.
- With frameless modules, potential induced degradation (PID) is also reduced along with the Balance of Systems (BOS).
- They offer a minimum lifespan of 30 years whereas traditional panels last for a maximum of 20 years.
- Plus these panels can significantly reduce the cost of electricity.
