What are bifacial solar panels? A bifacial solar panel is any module that can capture sunlight from the front and rear surfaces, efficiently generating electricity using reflected light.
In contrast to monofacial solar cells, they create electrical energy only when photons impact their front sides alone.
You don’t hear about the bifacial panels as much as others, like the mano-facial panels, maybe because it is still new.
The bifacial solar panel is a fantastic photovoltaic solar cell with fascinating features that allow it to capture sunlight from the front and the rear.
There are many interesting things about the bifacial solar panel, which I will show you in this article.
How Do Bifacial Solar Panels Work
Bifacial solar panels work like regular front-side solar panels. On its external face, it has photovoltaic cells. The underside of the plate is opaque. It serves to solidify the structure.
The front side of the bi-facial solar panels produces electricity, and the photovoltaic cell transforms the sun’s energy into electricity.
It is the sun’s direct rays that are used to transform solar energy into electricity.
The backside of bi-facial solar panels and the rear side of the bi-facial solar panels also produce electricity by using the sun’s rays indirectly.
The bifacial panels work differently because the loss of light by the bifacial panel gives the panel a chance to take it back in afterward.
Specifically, a light goes right through and hits the highly reflective surface. The light then bounces back towards the panels and is turned into solar energy.
Hence both sides of the solar cells can absorb sunlight, which means that bifacial solar panels can produce more electricity.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of bifacial solar panels.
In contrast, in the monofacial solar panel, solar cells directly receive a portion of sunlight, which turns into energy.
What happens is that solar cells can only absorb some of the sunlight rays left inside the glass, and the one that cannot absorb bounce around until it breaks down.
There is only a small amount of light that goes right through. That is what happens with the mono facial panel.
Bifacial build-up
The structure of bifacial solar panels comprises two glass sides capable of transforming solar energy into electricity.
Photovoltaic solar panels only have one glass side, the rear side, which is made of aluminum, to provide good strength to the structure.
The bifacial photovoltaic panel often comprises 60, 72, 120, or 144 solar cells.
The front and back of these solar cells feature almost identical metal grids, with over 90% of both sides available to catch sunlight.
Different designs are used for bifacial modules. Some have a frame, while others do not.
Frameless bifacial solar panels are more visually appealing. Some feature front and back double glass, while others have a transparent rear sheet.
Why Is Albedo Important For Bifacial Panels?
Albedo is very important for bifacial panels because it can help the system produce more energy by capturing sunlight reflected off surfaces around them.
The albedo can absorb a large amount of radiation reflected by the ground. Under normal conditions, the percentage that the earth reflects is 30 to 35%.
This has to do with the soil type, its color, and its composition. If, for example, we have a white floor due to snow, levels of up to 95% albedo can be reached, while if we have a dark gray floor made of tile, it is not easy to reach 35%.
The strong point of bifacial panels is that they can receive radiation from their opposite side, so albedo represents an important factor in increasing their efficiency.
For example, if we have a bifacial panel in our garage as an awning, it would be interesting for the floor to be white to reflect the maximum possible radiation.
Can Bifacial Solar Panels Be Installed On A Roof?
Yes, You can install bifacial solar panels on the roof if the roof structure and circumstances are adequate.
Bifacial solar panels, on the other hand, perform best when placed little meters above ground. The higher the panel sits, the more light can get below it.
Your solar module should be near enough to the ground to reflect light adequately. As a result, a bifacial solar panel cannot be installed on a sloping roof.
It must be placed on the ground in a building with a high frame. However, there is one exception to this rule: the roof terrace. A bifacial model has a wingspan of 1 to 1.6 meters.
As a result, bifacial solar panels are unlikely to be used domestically, although they do well in solar farms, off-grid systems, and commercial applications.
Based on my experience, the perfect surface for bifacial solar panels is glass.
Bifacial solar panels may be useful when installed on gazebos or other free-standing shelters.
These structures can benefit from the albedo reflected by grass, stone, or concrete while providing shade, combining beauty and practicality. Bifacial solar panels offer a “clean” look.
If you still want to place your bifacial panels on the roof, professionals use numerous mounting solutions, and you can easily call them for such services.
Do You Have To Install A Bifacial Solar Panel Now?
When installing your bi-facial solar panels, you should call on a photovoltaic professional experienced in bifacial technology who can advise you best throughout your project.
This is because installing bifacial solar panels can be a complex task.
You would have to consider a lot of things. However, here are a few things to put in place before installing a bifacial solar panel:
The spacing between the different bi-facial solar panels must be sufficient to capture the maximum amount of light and produce more electricity.
You have to check the quality of your land or your roof. Do not install your bi-facial panels on the ground but at an angle.
Ensure you have enough space to space your bi-facial panels sufficiently apart.
The height of bi-facial solar panels must be good to obtain better performance. The angle of the bi-facial solar panels must be adjusted, like with any solar panel, to capture all of the sun’s rays.
It is critical to ensure that the inclination is as steep as possible so that the rear face of the panel receives the most solar radiation.
It would be best if you considered the mentioned above to get the maximum from installing the bifacial solar panel system.
Note: You can install your bi-facial solar panels on a pivoting structure, which allows you to capture more of the sun’s rays.
Types Of Bi-Sided Solar Panels And Other Types Of Solar Panels
There are many types of solar panels today with very diverse specifications. They are mainly distinguished according to the energy they produce.
Let’s do a quick summary of the three different main types of panels that you can find on the market. Before that, let’s see the two main types of bifacial panels.
Here are the two types of technologies for bi-sided solar panels:
1. Bi-sided polycrystalline solar panels
Bi-sided polycrystalline solar panels typically refer to bifacial solar panels made with polycrystalline solar cells.
They can capture sunlight from both the front and rear sides of the panel to enhance their energy generation efficiency.
However, they have lesser efficiency compared with the bi-sided monocrystalline panels.
2. Bi-sided monocrystalline solar panels
Besides, monocrystalline solar panels are bifacial solar panels that use monocrystalline solar cells.
These panels absorb sunlight from both the front and rear sides.
This type of bifacial panel uses the high efficiency of monocrystalline cells on both surfaces, enabling them to produce more energy generation potential than conventional panels.
The most commonly found bi-sided solar panels are made up of monocrystalline cells.
What you need to watch out for when buying a two-sided solar panel is the panel’s bifaciality coefficient.
In other words, the efficiency of both sides of the solar panel with the same sunlight. It is calculated between the nominal power of the interior face and that of the upper face.
This coefficient varies in particular depending on the cells of the module and the materials used.
Here are other types of solar panels out there:
Thermal solar panels
Solar thermal screens use the sun’s energy to make heat. They are mostly used to heat your home and give hot water to the network. Thermal solar panels can’t give power to your house.
The simple way it works is that the thermal solar panel soaks up the sun’s rays, which heat the heat transfer fluid and store it in the hot water tank.
Solar panels with aero voltaics
Aerovoltaic solar panels are a type of combination solar panels because they make power and heat.
This smart solar panel blends the best features of both photovoltaic and heat panel technologies.
The best performance of solar panels can be achieved with aerovoltaic panels, which have a cooling system built in. A screen loses power when it gets too hot.
Photovoltaic solar panels
It is the solar panels that are most often put up. Use photovoltaic solar panels to make power you can use on your own.
Solar panels are easy to use: photovoltaic cells collect energy from the sun, and a transformer changes direct current and alternating current so that you can use the power for your daily needs.
Final Thought
The front and back of the bifacial solar panels can both collect sunlight and turn it into power.
The bifacial solar screen has something called the albedo reflection effect. It can collect indirect sunlight from things like the ground and turn it into power.
Installing the bifacial modules in places with reflective surfaces, like light-colored ground cover, snow, or other mirrored materials, will make them work better.
Having a professional to install the bifacial solar system is also what I recommend.
You can read everything about bifacial solar panels vs monocrystalline solar panels right here.
