What are bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules?

In principle, bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules are simply PV modules whose full rear contact has been replaced with a fingerprint contact. This means that also the rear of the panel can be exposed to solar radiation and be used to produce power.

Can bifacial PV modules boost the performance of solar power plants?

Bifacial PV modules can boost the performance of PV plants by 25–30% (and even more using reflecting solutions) depending on their electrical behaviour, mounting structures and terrain characteristics . They are perceived as the technology that can be used for future solar power plants as they increase energy yield at a marginally higher cost.

How do bifacial solar modules work?

Bifacial modules collect solar energy from both the front and back side of the module, increasing the total power output per module. LONGi had scaled up high-volume manufacturing of bifacial modules and has become the largest producer of bifacial PV products, with cumulative shipments of bifacial modules surpassing 20GW in early 2021.

Will bifacial PV modules gain 50% of the global market share?

The International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV) also predicts that true bifacial modules will gain 50% of the world’s PV module market share by 2029 . Furthermore, bifacial PV modules are predicted to gain 60% of the global market share by 2029.

What are bifacial and monofacial PV modules?

Bifacial PV module: The existing PV modules are classified under monofacial as they are capable of generating electricity when sunlight is incident on the surface. The other category of PV module is bifacial, and the name itself suggests that the PV module can generate electricity from both sides.

Are bifacial PV modules reliable?

Positive is that the delivery times for bifacial modules have normalised and yield simulations render reliable values. Bifacial PV modules generate more energy on the same module surface through a solar-active rear of the panel due to the reflectivity of the surrounding surface.