In Greek “mono” means one side, i.e., a monofacial panel means a single side facing the Sun, whereas a bi-facial panel means both the front and back end are elevated to absorb energy. In this blog, let us explore many such differences, pros and cons, and other parameters of bifacial solar panels vs monofacial panels.
Bifacial Solar Panels Vs Monofacial
Monofacial panels: These solar panels have one side reflecting the sun. The light is reflected on this side and can be generated into energy. The other side has a protective glass sheet facing towards the roof of the building.
Bifacial Panels: They absorb sunlight from both ends and generate electricity. From the front end, sunlight is exposed and the rear side receives the reflection off the ground, both are absorbed by solar cells.
Also, check out What are Frameless Bifacial Solar Panels?
Feature | Bifacial Panel | Monofacial panel |
Method | Energy generation from both the front and back sides of the panel | Depends only front side for energy production |
Price | Higher in the initial days | When compared, the price is less |
Installation | Unique conditions are required | These can be installed easily |
Weight | Heavier in weight | Lightweight |
Output | The energy output is 18% higher in optimal conditions and weather. | Lesser power in optimal capacity |
Efficiency | Yields greater efficiency | monofacial solar panels efficiency is less but durable because of its single silicon piece |
Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) | It is relatively higher than mono-facial about 2-8 % in higher light diffusion areas. | When placed at an appropriate tilt angle it reaches good LCOE |
Payback Period | The payback period is around 7 years | Around 8 years |
Placement | Can generate energy even when placed at a 90degree angle | Mostly these are required to be installed at 30 & 45 degrees south of the equator. |
Working of Bifacial Solar Panels
A photo voltaic cell is placed inside the module and has glass on both the rear side and front sides. The sun power enters the panel from the front side and arrives at the PN junction creating electricity there. For bifacial, the solar power can radiate from the back side also, it can enter the solar cell in the same way and this results in more power.
Bifacial panels are made of transparent glass through which the light passes and reflects on the surface.
Also See: Solar Panel Sizes and Wattage Explained
Bifacial Solar Panels Vs Monofacial Pros and Cons

The below table shows the advantages of both bifacial and monofacial panels.
Bifacial Solar Panels Pros | Monofacial Solar Panels Pros |
They may be weighed more than that mono facial but are efficient | Lighter than bifacial |
Can generate electricity at any angle and even works in diffuse light | Installed in 30 & 45 degrees south of the equator gives greater yield |
The companies are offering longer warranty periods of up to 30 years | These modules are abundant and easily available in the market |
Glass is covered on both sides for more absorption and has less PID(Potential induced degrading) | They are manufactured to resist rough climatic conditions which results in longevity |
No trackers are required, these adjust automatically | No special installation conditions or requirements |
As they are frameless they look attractive | It can be installed at low heights |
The disadvantages of bifacial and monofacial panels are listed below
Bifacial Solar Panels Cons | Monofacial Solar Panels Cons |
As they have more layers and sheets, these are heavier. | Lighter in weight but less durable |
Need more maintenance and cleaning of dirt and debris and need a reflective surface for absorption | When compared, yields less energy in reflected sunlight locations |
Not viable for shady areas and neighboring buildings with obstruction. | They do not have the capability of capturing indirect sunlight |
They have a higher upfront cost | Mono PERC panels are slightly more fragile |
They need to be at least 4 meters high from the ground to get maximum output. | Even though these are lighter, but need to be installed at lower heights. |
Suited for off-grid or flat-roofed surfaces as cannot be placed on uneven roofs | They should be placed in direct sunlight areas |
Today, we learned the main differences between bifacial and mono-facial solar panels. Monofacial panels are pocket-friendly, simple, and installed easily, whereas bifacial are newer versions that yield high efficiency but are a bit complex. However, the choice you make depends on your requirements, space, and location. We hope this blog gave you a better insight and for more such content, keep exploring our website.
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