We are experiencing a boom in the photovoltaic industry. Cheap solar energy is an excellent alternative to increasingly expensive electricity from gas or coal – which is why even more businesses and families will decide to take advantage of its advantages in the near future. This situation means that manufacturers are competing with each other when it comes to integrating new technologies into the devices they offer – photovoltaic modules are becoming more efficient, less prone to failure, lighter and can now extract energy from both sides. . How is this possible? All thanks to bifacial technology!
Mono and bifacial panels
One-sided panels are called monofacial panels (or monofacial – both ways are correct). These types of photovoltaic cells have only one active side – this means that sunlight is only absorbed by the surface of one side of the module (called the active layer). Double-sided panels have two active sides and are sold under the name bifacial photovoltaic modules.
Bifacial panels achieve a maximum efficiency approximately 25% higher than that of unilateral panels. The average efficiency of bifacial modules is 10 to 15% higher than the efficiency of monofacial modules. Well, yes, but since it's a double-sided panel, shouldn't the efficiency be double that of a one-sided panel? The answer is no – we must not forget the arrangement of the modules in the mounting profile and the corresponding angle of inclination. The upper active side of the photovoltaic module always absorbs sunlight more effectively than the active layer at the bottom of the module.
Is it worth buying bifacial modules?
In our opinion, it's worth it – the price difference between single-sided and double-sided photovoltaic modules is small. The differences in efficiency may not be overwhelming, but they are certainly noticeable, especially over the course of a year. Okay, but let's get into the details: How do bifacial and monofacial panels differ in price? As an example, we use two photovoltaic modules with similar performance that are offered by the same photovoltaic store (Starbud):
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HYUNDAI-HIE-S400VG M6 tile – is a single-face panel with a rated power of 400 W. In the Starbud Store, this module is available for PLN 736.77 gross (as of May 11, 2022).
- Znshine ZXM7-SHLDD108 – is a bifacial panel with a rated power of 405 W. For this module we paid PLN 854.85 gross in the Starbud store mentioned above (as of May 11, 2022).
The price difference between the two types of photovoltaic modules is several percentage points – so it can be considered equivalent to the difference in efficiency between bifacial and monofacial modules. This means that the customer's money is not wasted!
