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8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion; 1359-1363, The deployment of single-axis tracker bifacial PV systems is attracting the interest of several PV operators particularly targeting the utility-scale market segment. The main driver is the lowest Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) achievable by this solution due to the increased energy yield. This paper presents the results of one full year of monitoring data from a pilot PV system realized in the framework of the H2020 European project, GOPV. The PV pilot plant is installed in Cadarache (France) and consists of bifacial half-cell silicon heterojunction (HJT) PV modules combined with Horizontal Single Axis Trackers (HSAT), east-west sun tracking. This work compares the monthly gain of the energy yield of the bifacial HJT technology, installed both on a tilted fixed structure and on a HSAT tracker, with a PERC monofacial technology installed on tilted fixed structure, which serves as a reference system. The results highlight that, compared to the benchmark technology, the energy yield of the bifacial HJT on a fixed structure can achieve an average of 15% gain on annual basis, and the HJT bifacial on HSAT can exceed 35% during the summer months. This study also includes insights from the experience gathered in one year of activity on the influence of wind parameters on tracking yield.

Acquiring resources for self-maintenance and reproduction is a key challenge for wild animals, and the methods that individuals employ are, in part, shaped by environmental conditions that vary in time and space. For birds, rainfall may affect behavior, impairing senses and increasing energetic costs, but its consequences on movement patterns are poorly explored. We investigated the influence of rainfall on the foraging behavior of the magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens. This peculiar tropical seabird lacks feather waterproofing and is known to track environmental conditions while searching for food. Thus, its foraging behavior should be highly sensitive to the effects of rainfall. By GPS-tracking chick-rearing adults, we showed that frigatebirds did not avoid areas with rainfall during foraging trips, nor did rainfall influence trip characteristics. However, rainfall decreased time devoted to foraging and increased time spent perching. Moreover, it affected flight mode, inducing birds to fly slower and at lower altitudes. Wind speed, which was not correlated with rainfall, only affected behavior during night-time, with strong winds decreasing time spent perching. Our results indicate that rainfall does not affect the spatial distribution of foraging frigatebirds but does alter fine-scale foraging behavior by reducing flight activity. We suggest that the ongoing environmental change in this region, including an increase in rainfall events, has the potential to impair foraging and negatively affect fitness.