Power generation of double-sided solar panels

Do bifacial solar panels increase electricity generation?

Bifacial solar panels: What... Bifacial solar panels are known to increase electricity generation by up to 27%. Why trust EnergySage? The technology behind solar panels continues to evolve and improve. Manufacturers are now able to produce bifacial panels, which feature energy-producing solar cells on both sides of the panel.

How do bifacial solar panels work?

The design allows solar energy to be captured from both sides, with the back panel achieving an efficiency of 91-93% of the front side. Developed at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the bifacial solar cells harvest sunlight that is reflected onto the back of the cells.

Are bifacial solar panels better than monofacial panels?

The technology behind solar panels continues to evolve and improve. Manufacturers are now able to produce bifacial panels, which feature energy-producing solar cells on both sides of the panel. With two faces capable of absorbing sunlight, bifacial solar panels can be more efficient than traditional monofacial panels – if used appropriately.

Which solar power system is most cost effective?

Solar power systems with double-sided (bifacial) solar panels -- which collect sunlight from two sides instead of one -- and single-axis tracking technology that tilts the panels so they can follow the sun are the most cost effective to date, researchers report.

What is a bifacial solar cell?

Scientists at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra have created the world’s first “truly bifacial solar cell”. These panels are dual sided, with both the front and the back of the solar module capable of generating power. Place a mirror behind these cells, and incoming sunlight can be absorbed twice.

Are double-sided solar panels better than single-axis trackers?

The model suggests that double-sided solar panels combined with single-axis tracking technology is most cost effective almost anywhere on the planet, although dual-axis trackers -- which follow the sun's path even more accurately but are more expensive than single-axis trackers -- are a more favorable substitute in latitudes near the poles.