Are bifacial solar panels a good investment?

And, as we’ll discuss, bifacial panels are also more expensive than traditional single-face panels, which can affect the breakeven point of your investment. Bifacial solar panels can capture light energy on both sides of the panel, whereas monofacial panels (AKA traditional solar panels) only absorb sunlight on the front.

How do bifacial solar panels work?

One round of operation ends for a monofacial panel after the incident light strikes the front side of the panel and is absorbed and converted into electricity. For a bifacial solar panel, in addition for front-side conversion, part of the direct light would pass through the panel and be reflected back to the rear side by the surface below.

What does bifaciality mean on solar panels?

First comes the term you might have spotted on the spec manual of these panels: ‘bifaciality’. It refers to their ability to generate electricity from both sides. This characteristic is quantified by the ‘bifaciality factor,’ which is the ratio of the efficiency of the rear side to that of the front side under the same irradiance conditions.

Should I switch from monofacial to bifacial solar panels?

Plus, the tilt angle should be optimized based on the local latitude to maximize solar radiation capture. Bifacial solar panels are more sensitive to shading on either side. Otherwise, it might be not necessary to switch your choice from monofacial to bifacial technology.

Should bifacial solar panels be aligned?

Ideally, bifacial panels should be aligned to ensure maximum sunlight exposure on both sides throughout the day. Plus, the tilt angle should be optimized based on the local latitude to maximize solar radiation capture. Bifacial solar panels are more sensitive to shading on either side.

What is bifacialize solar?

The term ‘bifacialize’ isn't widely used in the industry, but it refers to the process of designing and manufacturing solar panels to harness energy from both the front and back sides, boosting overall efficiency and energy output.