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Optimization and performance of bifacial solar modules: A global perspective.
- Source :
-
Applied Energy . Feb2018, Vol. 212, p1601-1610. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- With the rapidly growing interest in bifacial photovoltaics (PV), a worldwide map of their potential performance can help assess and accelerate the global deployment of this emerging technology. However, the existing literature only highlights optimized bifacial PV for a few geographic locations or develops worldwide performance maps for very specific configurations, such as the vertical installation. It is still difficult to translate these location- and configuration-specific conclusions to a general optimized performance of this technology. In this paper, we present a global study and optimization of bifacial solar modules using a rigorous and comprehensive modeling framework. Our results demonstrate that with a low albedo of 0.25, the bifacial gain of ground-mounted bifacial modules is less than 10% worldwide. However, increasing the albedo to 0.5 and elevating modules 1 m above the ground can boost the bifacial gain to 30%. Moreover, we derive a set of empirical design rules, which optimize bifacial solar modules across the world and provide the groundwork for rapid assessment of the location-specific performance. We find that ground-mounted, vertical, east-west-facing bifacial modules will outperform their south-north-facing, optimally tilted counterparts by up to 15% below the latitude of 30°, for an albedo of 0.5. The relative energy output is reversed in latitudes above 30°. A detailed and systematic comparison with data from Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America validates the model presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03062619
- Volume :
- 212
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Applied Energy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 127983798
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.12.041