Performance of bifacial-silicon heterojunction modules under desert environment. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abotaleb, A.; Abdallah, A.
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 127(2018)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Bifacial module -- Silicon heterojunction -- Energy yield -- Reflected irradiance; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.04.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: Bifacial silicon Photovoltaic (PV) technology has the advantage of generating more energy output as compared with the conventional mono-facial technology. In this paper, a comparison is made between the performances of two bifacial silicon heterojunction modules mounted at two configurations under Qatar's climatic conditions: a tilt angle of 22° facing south and a tilt angle of 90° (vertical) facing east-west. The bifacial module mounted under standard tilt showed a 14% higher energy yield over the vertically tilted bifacial module. This is mainly due to higher irradiance received by the 22° tilted module relative to the vertically tilted module. On the other hand, a thermal model has been developed using COMSOL Multiphysics to calculate the theoretical power output, energy yield and module temperature. A gain in the short circuit current is found to increase linearly with the ratio of the diffuse irradiance to plane of array irradiance. Highlights: This paper summarize the performance of two bifacial-silicon heterojunction modules. The tested modules are 22° and 90° tilt-angle facing (east-west). The modules are tested under desert climate of Qatar at the Solar Test Facility. The 22°PV module showed a 14% higher energy yield over the 90° tilt-angle. The gain in Isc current for both modules depends linearly on received irradiance.