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Bifacial solar panels are an excitng new technology transforming how we think about solar energy. They are a revolutionary new way to capture and transform the sun’s energy into usable electricity.
All solar panels today have sheets of glass that protect solar cells, and they are usually found at the front of the solar panels. These panels are referred to as ‘monofacial’Bifacial panels feature double glass – glass on the front and the back, allowing them to capture sunlight from both sides. The light absorbed in the back is the light that is reflected from the ground where the solar panels are installed.
This type of solar panel is gaining popularity, with the market at $9.57 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $31.1 billion by 2031.
Nearly all solar panels come with a reflective layer on the bottom, which allows light to bounce back, providing a second chance for light to be absorbed and generate energy.
Bifacial solar panels’ reflective layer is removed to let the light coming in from the back generate energy.
Albedo is the ground surface reflective under the solar panels, which is the sunlight ratio that will be reflected on the ground and then to the back of the bifacial modules. This is important when calculating energy yield and project profitability.
Residential and commercial use
Bifacial solar panels are not only for commercial use but they are more prevalent, specifically in solar farms. The LONGi Hi-MO 7 solar panels are for commercial use and are bifacial.
Popularity for residential home use has increased substantially as technology has improved. Bifacial solar panels are fantastic for homes and businesses in low-sunlight regions.
The advantages of bifacial solar panels
There are a number of advantages for bifacial solar panels:
- Increased efficiency by generating up to 30 per cent more energy
- Lower Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)
- More productive under bad weather conditions
- More durable and resistant to UV and Potential Induced Degradation (PID)
- Longer lifespan
The disadvantages of bifacial solar panels
As with most things, bifacial panels come with some disadvantages:
- More expensive as they cost ten per cent more than other models because of the specific manufacturing process
- Can’t be applied everywhere
Bifacial solar panels vs. traditional systems
Property owners are becoming more curious about using bifacial solar panels today, and the question of if it’s better than the traditional systems continues to linger.
Compared to monofacial solar panels, bifacial panels are believed to generate more energy. This being said, the additional cost may be prohibitive to some.
Bifacial panels and inverters
Bifacial panels produce more energy, but this doesn’t affect their capacity rating. This allows companies with only a limited amount of panel capacity to generate more energy.
Many question is Inverters used for bifacial panels will be able to handle the extra power, but with the 133% limit, it is likely that this will be fine.
Maximising the potential of bifacial solar panels
One of the most important things to consider to get the most out of bifacial solar panels is their positioning. They work well when the panels are tilted for exposure underneath.
Dual-axis trackers may also promote flexibility and ensure that the panels will get the most sunlight during the day. This is especially important to consider for solar farms.
Microinverters can also be used with their module-level MPPT.
Technologies in bifacial panels
As mentioned, bifacial panels are becoming more well-known; hence, the influx of new technologies will put this type of solar panel more accessible to every Aussie.
In 2021, scientists at The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra developed a dual-sided silicon solar cell with a bifacial factor of 93.3 per cent.
New South Wales (NSW) has also tapped into the use of bifacial solar panels for two of its solar farms—Gunnedah Solar Farm and Suntop Solar Farm. 980,000 bifacial solar panels are used for farms to increase generation capacity.
Together, they can power 100,000 homes annually while eliminating 390,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
In 2022, the Australian government also announced its investment of AUD 37 million to support the construction of the Blue Grass Solar Farm in Columboola in Queensland (QLD), which will include bifacial solar panels.
Bifacial solar panels have emerged as a game-changing technology for the renewable energy industry. They offer the potential for higher energy yields than traditional monofacial solar panels, and are more efficient than many other renewable energy sources. With their dual-sided design, they are also more aesthetically pleasing than monofacial solar panels and may be better suited for large-scale solar installations.
Energy Matters has over 17 years of experience in the solar industry and has helped over 40,000 Australian households in their journey to energy independence.
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