A major motivation for bifacial photovoltaics (PV) is an expected additional energy yield, compared to monofacial panels, due to the two-sided light sensitivity. The potential for an improved module power output and energy yield was repeatedly demonstrated by simulations [1-8], measurements on stand-alone modules [9-14] or installations [15-19] in various orientations. However, uncertainties concerning the actual output of projected systems still deter possible investors. Even in the PV community, the real quantitative benefit due to bifaciality and the best-suited technical concepts are still under discussion [20-22], as reflected by numerous publications dealing with these topics.

Chapter Contents:

• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.1.1 Key indicators to analyze the potential advantage of a bifacial system over a monofacial one
• 5.2 Overview about small scale bifacial systems with information concerning the bifacial gain
• 5.2.1 Vertically installed bifacial systems
• 5.3 Bifacial systems with non-standard mounting situation
• 5.3.1 Vertically installed bifacial systems
• 5.3.1.1 Early approaches
• 5.3.1.2 Next2Sun's test site
• 5.3.1.3 General aspects
• 5.3.1.4 Energy yield
• 5.3.1.5 Daily production profile
• 5.3.1.6 Seasonal production profile
• 5.3.1.7 Dual use application: "Agro-PV"
• 5.3.1.8 Dual use application: "Natural PV"
• 5.3.1.9 Dual use application: PV integration into functional structures
• 5.3.1.10 Vertical bifacial on rooftops
• 5.3.2 Floating bifacial PV
• 5.3.2.1 Floating PV applications in general
• 5.3.2.2 Beneficial effects of water on PV systems
• 5.3.2.3 Status of floating PV systems installed
• 5.3.2.4 Bifacial PV on water
• 5.3.2.5 Example for floating PV system—Sunfloat
• 5.3.2.6 Performance
• 5.3.2.7 Conclusion
• 5.4 Overview of large-scale bifacial systems and growth perspectives
• 5.5 Horizontal single-axis tracked bifacial systems
• 5.5.1 Bifacial (nPERT) HSAT system in "La Silla"by Enel
• 5.5.2 Bifacial nPERT HSAT PV system by Jolywood using their own nPERT modules
• 5.5.3 Fixed tilt and single-axis tracking of bifacial PERC+ modules by TRINA
• 5.5.4 Fixed tilt and tilted single-axis tracking system with bifacial PERC+ by Longi
• 5.5.5 Tilted vertical single-axis tracking system with bifacial PERC+ by Solar World
• 5.5.6 Summary of tracked bifacial PV systems
• 5.6 What does bifacial gain tell us? How to transfer this to lowest LCOEs?
• 5.6.1 Definition of bifacial gain
• 5.6.2 Examples of bifacial gains: comparison of apples with apples
• 5.6.3 Bifacial applications in reality: comparison of apples with oranges
• 5.6.4 Summary
• 5.7 Conclusion
• References

Inspec keywords: solar cells; power system simulation; building integrated photovoltaics

Other keywords: bifacial gain; yield data; module power output improvement; stand-alone modules; additional energy yield; PV community; bifacial PV systems; monofacial panels; two-sided light sensitivity; bifacial photovoltaics; best-suited technical concepts

Subjects: Solar power stations and photovoltaic power systems; Power engineering computing; Buildings (energy utilisation); Solar cells and arrays; Photoelectric conversion; solar cells and arrays