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Scientists invent double-sided solar panel that generates vastly more electricity
(www.independent.co.uk)
this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2023
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Technology
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Bifaciality isn't new or limited to perovskite based PV. Ground reflection is also not the only source of indirect light.
This article is very bad, but bifacial panels are starting to dominate the industry for good reason. The backside gives a 5-20% boost in total annual yield (which is worth it on its own), but more importantly that boost is skewed towards times with low direct irradiance (such as cloudy days). This reduces the amount of storage required.
It also allows other orientations. Vertical installations have huge advantages including better compatibility with agrivoltaics, generation skewed towards times where low tilt panels don't produce (morning-evening for east-west and winter for north-south), better dual use, and lower racking cost. Glass-glass encapsulisation is also more durable and this alone pays for most of the added cost.
Thanks for the background. My panels are dual glass encapsulated but not bifacial -- not that I would be able to profit from it anyway.