The Effects of Module Temperature on the Energy Yield of Bifacial Photovoltaics: Data and Model

Abstract

Bifacial photovoltaics (BPVs) are emerging with large momentum as promising solutions to improve energy yield and cost of PV systems. To reach its full potential, an accurate understanding of the physical characteristics of BPV technology is required. For this reason, we collected experimental data to refine a physical model of BPV. In particular, we simultaneously measured the module temperature, short circuit current (Isc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), power at the maximum power point (Pmpp), and the energy yield of a bifacial and a monofacial minimodule. Such minimodules, realised with the same geometry, cell technology, and module lamination, were tested under the same clear sky outdoor conditions, from morning to afternoon, for three days. The bifacial system experimentally shows higher module temperatures under operation, about 10 °C on a daily average of about 40 °C. Nevertheless, its energy yield is about 15% larger than the monofacial one. We propose a physical quantitative model that fits the experimental data of module temperature, Isc, Voc, Pmpp, and energy yield. The model was then applied to predict the annual energy yield of PV module strings. The effect of different PV module temperature coefficients on the energy yield is also discussed.

Data on the design optimization, indoor characterization and outdoor testing of GaAs/Bifacial Si heterojunction four-terminal photovoltaic systems

“…6 reports the electrical scheme of the experimental setup used to acquire the I-V characteristics of the 4T device. This setup has already been validated in other works [5] . The voltage across the device was swept by a variable load, applied by driving an P75NF75 power MOS from OFF to ON condition with a linear staircase signal applied to the transistor gate.…”

Innovative PV Technologies for reducing electricity costs

“…The bifacial option can offer an average increase of energy conversion from 5% to 20% and even more. [3,5,68] The conversion increase is highly dependent on the reflectivity of the ground or albedo. Bifacial modules market share has remarkably grown in few years and a continuous growth is expected in the next years.…”

“…[1,2] Indeed, recent solutions, such as bifacial modules, highly improved the PV performances in terms of energy production. [3][4][5] Chinese manufacturers dominate the terrestrial PV market achieving more than 90% of the PV worldwide production, leading the technological breakthrough required from the global needs. In this work, we report the advantages of an innovative silicon-based technology, known as heterojunction technology (HJT).…”

Improving solar photovoltaic installation energy yield using bifacial modules and tracking systems: An analytical approach

“…8 This projection is based on the fact that bifacial photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules can absorb solar irradiance utilizing both the front and back sides, resulting in a higher daily and annual energy yield for the same module area as monofacial PV modules. 6,9–11…”

“…8 This projection is based on the fact that bifacial photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules can absorb solar irradiance utilizing both the front and back sides, resulting in a higher daily and annual energy yield for the same module area as monofacial PV modules. 6,[9][10][11] The advent of bifacial technology, as well as singleaxis tracking system (1T) and dual-axis tracking system (2T) , is likely to challenge the dominance of fixed tilted monofacial, 7 because it has the potential to achieve low levelized cost of energy of PV systems. 12,13 The deployment scenario (orientation of the system), system parameters, and environmental conditions all have an effect on the energy generated by bifacial PV modules in comparison to monofacial PV modules.…”