Bifacial Versus Monofacial Solar Panels: An Analysis

Bifacial or Monofacial Panels for Utility-Scale Solar?

Bluestem&#;s Director of Research and Development, Dr. Srikanth Madala, recently presented a comparative analysis of utility-scale bifacial and monofacial PV projects. Before we dive into the analysis, let&#;s define the two technologies.

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Traditional solar panels are monofacial, with solar cells on only one side of the panels. Bifacial solar panels feature solar cells on both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Madala compared two Bluestem solar projects over seven months to analyze the difference in performance. These two projects, located in Burt and Dodge Counties in Nebraska, were built within 48 miles of each other. The projects were designed to be almost exactly alike. From solar size to battery size, to number of modules to project area, and even using the same size battery storage systems, these two facilities are identical in all ways but one: Dodge County uses monofacial modules, while Burt County uses bifacial modules.

So, do the benefits of bifacial modules outweigh the cost advantages of monofacial modules?

 

Let&#;s compare the bifacial and monofacial projects:

Overall Energy Production: The bifacial project produced 5.5% more kWh than the monofacial.

Capacity Factor: The bifacial project&#;s capacity factor was consistently higher than the monofacial. This percentage indicates how fully the solar project&#;s capacity is used.

Demand Value: The bifacial project&#;s demand value ($/MWh) was also consistently higher than the monofacial.

What is helping bifacial outperform monofacial?

Several factors are causing the bifacial solar project to come out on top.

• Higher Diffuse Solar Radiation: The double-sided panels can pick up light reflecting off the ground and other surfaces.
• Ground Albedo (Reflectivity)
• Tracker height from the ground (Array height)
• Effective cable management
• Spacing between adjacent rows (Pitch)

 

Takeaways:

For utility-scale solar installations with proper planning, bifacial solar arrays will typically outperform monofacial arrays.

 

In this case study, the solar projects provided a demand value of $30-$49 per MWh (bifacial) and $23-$46 per MWh (monofacial) in summer and shoulder months. The energy generated by the bifacial PV project was 5.5% higher than the monofacial PV project over the course of 7 operating months.

The additional capital cost for the bifacial modules was approximately $10,000/MW, which is expected to be paid back in less than 2.5 years. In this case, the benefits of bifacial modules did outweigh the cost advantages of monofacial options.

The future looks bright for bifacial solar PV. Bifacial modules and higher wattage modules (350W to 700W) are starting to dominate the utility-scale installations, and all Tier-1 manufacturers offer bifacial module products. Bifacial modules are exempt from the Section 201 import tariff (14% &#; 14.75%), which has been extended into . This exemption will likely contribute to their continued popularity.

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More about the project:

Bluestem Energy Solutions owns and operates the Burt County Solar-Plus-Storage Project, which features a 1.4 MWAC solar array and a 6 MWh Tesla Megapack battery storage system across two sites. In partnership with offtaker Burt County Public Power District, Bluestem began operation of the project in June . The solar-plus-storage project is one of the first installations in the Midwest to feature Tesla Megapack. The project is also the first solar and utility-scale battery storage system to be built in tandem in Nebraska. Developed by Bluestem Energy Solutions and constructed by Boyd Jones Construction, the project is now operational in BCPPD&#;S service territory.

 

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Ever since solar panels came into existence, they have undergone various transformations. With advancement, a different category of solar panels, bifacial panels, has already hit the markets. 

The first type &#; the ancestors of bifacial panels &#; is monofacial solar panels. 

But the million-dollar question is what is the difference between monofacial and bifacial solar panels? Which one is better? 

To understand these bits in detail, you need to understand the basic structure and functioning of both types first. 

Let&#;s begin with the monofacial solar panels.  

What Are Monofacial Solar Panels? 

Monofacial Solar Panels

Monofacial solar panels are the traditional form of solar panels with solar cells on one side. They absorb the sun&#;s energy from one photovoltaic side and convert it into electrical energy for charging electronic appliances.

The majority of solar panels available in the market are monofacial modules. In other words, we can say that these solar panels are much more popular than bifacial modules. 

Now let&#;s learn what bifacial solar panels are. 

What Are Bifacial Solar Panels?

Bifacial Solar Panels

As stated above, bifacial panels are not as widely popular as monofacial modules. Probably, because they&#;re newer; hence, more expensive. 

However, the good news is that India is steadily shifting towards bifacial technology since the efficiency of these modern-day panels is very high. 

Unlike monofacial solar panels, the bifacial panels are double-sided. It means that the solar cells are fitted on both sides of the panels. 

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Therefore, this solar panel can absorb energy from both sides. Isn&#;t that great? 

What is even more interesting is the way the bifacial solar panels function. The front side of the panel absorbs direct sunlight when the rays fall on the surface. 

When the rays fall on the ground and bounce back, the back side of the panels catch those rays and convert them into electricity. So, the yield is also almost double. 

Undoubtedly these solar panels capture more sunlight due to their unique construction. 

But is it only the structure and the function that acts as a differentiating factor between mono-facial and bifacial panels? 

Let&#;s find out!

What Is The Difference Between Monofacial And Bifacial Solar Panels? 

Cost, weight, efficiency, durability, and other factors must be considered when differentiating between the two. 

To understand their differences, we need to study the advantages of each solar panel and determine how effective they are based on the abovementioned factors.  

Monofacial Solar Panels: Top 3 Advantages

The advantages of monofacial solar panels are as follows:

1. Generally, solar panels are expensive. However, compared to the bifacial panels, the monofacial modules are more affordable. 

It&#;s easier to install them as well. Since just one side catches the sunlight, they&#;re less expensive than bifacial modules in theory and otherwise.  

2. Another benefit of monofacial solar panels is that they are lighter than bifacial panels. Since there are no solar cells on the back side of the monofacial solar panels, they aren&#;t as heavy as their predecessors. 

3. Monofacial solar panels can work on all surfaces and do not need a reflective surface to operate. This factor is yet another reason for the lower cost of these panels.  

Bifacial Solar Panels: Top 5 advantages 

Now you know the benefits of conventional solar panels. Let&#;s walk you through the benefits of the bifacial panels now. 

1. The bifacial panels provide 11-12% efficiency. Since these panels provide more energy with fewer resources, they are highly efficient than monofacial modules. 

2. Unlike monofacial solar panels, bifacial modules offer higher durability. They do not crack under rough climatic conditions. They&#;re also made resistant to heat.

3. The space requirement for installation is less than monofacial solar panels. 

Why? Because it doesn&#;t take as many bifacial modules to produce the same amount of electricity that many monofacial solar panels generate.  

4. Another benefit is that the bifacial panels can be set up at any angle. You don&#;t need to analyse or calculate the right mounting and tilt angle for their installation.   

5. They don&#;t need trackers to function. If you&#;re wondering what a tracker is &#; it is a technology that adjusts the solar panel angles. Also, they come with a 30-year-warranty. 

By studying the differences, we can say that each type has distinct features as well as drawbacks. 

Our verdict? In terms of efficiency, bifacial solar panels are better. However, when the price is concerned, monofacial solar panels are, as of now, hands down the better option. 

In reality, you can&#;t predict which solar panel is better solely based on the features that are advertised. 

A lot about solar panels and their efficiency depends upon the amount of sunlight that a house receives, the power consumption, and most importantly, the budget of the customer. 

Only upon a detailed discussion with your solar installation company can you decide which solar panels are going to be the best options for you.

Conclusion 

If you&#;re wondering which type out of the two should you buy, you can select one based on your needs and requirements. 

However, bifacial modules are much more advanced and are expected to bring positive change to the solar industry.

They are designed to absorb more energy from the sunlight and decrease electricity costs in the near future. 

The manufacturers are consistently working on fixing the drawbacks in order to make bifacial solar panels more efficient and suitable for worldwide use. 

FAQs 

Q. Is a monofacial solar panel costly?

If you&#;re talking about high-quality monofacial solar panels, then yes, they&#;re costly. However, they are cost-effective in comparison to bifacial panels. 

Q. Are bifacial solar panels worth buying?

Yes, bifacial solar panels are worth purchasing. Since these panels are double-sided, they can generate 35 percent more energy than one-sided solar panels. 

Although bifacial solar panels are expensive, they can help reduce the electricity cost to a much greater extent. They are the future of the solar industry. 

Q. What is the price range for bifacial solar panel installation? 

The price of bifacial panels is expected to range anywhere from &#;4,79,271 to &#;9,58,542. 

The size, brand, and material contribute to the total cost of any solar panel, not just the bifacial ones. 

The only people who can give you the correct prices are either manufacturers or solar installation companies.  

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