Analysis and Comparison Between Bifacial and Monofacial Photovoltaic Modules Using Different Installation Parameters in Low Latitude Regions: a Case Study for Northeastern Brazil
Abstract
In recent years, photovoltaic bifacial modules (bPV) became the main technology in the PV market share due to their higher irradiation capture capability. The bifacial gain of bPV in comparison with monofacial modules highly depends on the incident irradiance in its rear surface, which varies with many environmental aspects. This research evaluates how the albedo and module’s tilt angle influence its efficiency and energy production. Experiments were conducted by varying the tilt of two bifacial photovoltaic modules (bPV), with one of them configured to simulate a monofacial module. Different reflective surfaces—such as white tarp, white pebble, and aluminum tarp—were tested. The results aim to show the energy gain the bifacial module can produce under different conditions compared to the monofacial module. These findings provide guidelines for optimizing the design and installation of large-scale solar power plants, contributing to the maximization of renewable energy generation.
Keywords
Bifacial modules (bPV), Monofacial modules (mPV), albedo, reflective surfaces, rear irradiance, module’s til angle