In everyday life, we usually see Solar Modules on roofs or facades, permanently mounted and facing the sun. No wonder, then, that many people assume that modules only utilize light from one side. However, there are also so-called Bifacial Solar Modules, which are installed at a distance from the ground or other surfaces and utilize the incoming light from both sides. They convert not only direct sunlight into energy, but also reflected radiation, for example from bright roofs, neighboring buildings, clean concrete, and sandy soil.
Bifacial Solar Modules get more out of the light
The reflectivity of the substrate is decisive for the additional gain of bifacial glass-glass Solar Modules. Depending on the location and substrate, this can result in an additional yield of 5 to 35 percent for the same area. Systems in open spaces or as part of photovoltaic applications in agriculture (agri-PV) benefit particularly strongly. However, Bifacial Modules deliver significantly higher performance also on white, cool-coated, more reflective roofs. This is due to the so called “albedo effect,” where sunlight that is reflected off the light-colored surface is captured by the rear side of the solar panel, creating additional energy. With the growing demand for winter electricity, Solar Module solutions are increasingly coming into focus.
meeco optimized solutions
The meeco Group brought Bifacial Solar Modules to the market early on, approaching projects in a way that everything is designed for maximum light yield, paying great attention not only to the Solar Modules but also to matching the perfect mounting systems.
Thanks to their double-glass construction, Bifacial Modules have better fire protection and durability. Their design improves fire resistance – achieving a Class A rating – making this Solar Modules a safer option for roof-mounted systems, especially on residential and commercial buildings, and in high-risk environments like chemical plants. Bifacial Modules also grant a better long-term durability and performance protecting against physical stress, moisture, temperatures fluctuations, UV exposure, and degradation.
The meeco Group offers bifacial optimized solutions for ground-mounted systems and agri-PV, carports and canopies, rooftops, building integration, facades, and solar fences.
For more complex systems, careful consideration must be given to the balance between space use and potential additional yield. In this context, meeco offers project-specific yield analyses that allow assessment at an early stage whether the additional bifacial gain is also economically viable.
For more information on meeco Solar Modules and bifacial optimization, visit www.meeco.net or email info@meeco.net.
