Bifacial modules have been around since the 1960's, yet it has been the development of PERC (passivated emitter rear cell) technology that has significantly increased their efficiencies and created the potential for them to be a disruptive player in the solar PV market.
In the photovoltaics (PV) industry, bifacial modules have already captured approximately 30% of the market share in 2022. This is attributed to their ability to yield higher energy output and lower the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) compared to monofacial modules due to increased absorption from the rear side.
Depending on the installation parameters, bifacial modules can boost the energy yield of PV power plants by 5% to 25% when compared to monofacial modules with a slightly higher cost . Projected bifacial cell technology market .
Bifacial photovoltaic cells, modules, and systems are rapidly overtaking the market share of monofacial PV technologies. This is happening due to new cell designs that have replaced opaque, monolithic back surface foil contacts with isolated contacts, which allow light to reach the cell from the rear side.
In the solar PV industry, bifacial PV modules are becoming increasingly popular. This is because, when compared to monofacial PV modules, the module can absorb radiation on both sides of the panels to generate electricity, increasing the energy yield per square area.
How efficient are bifacial PV modules?
Module efficiency: Bifacial PV modules are now available with up to 22% efficiencies, comparable to traditional monofacial modules. However, there is still room for improvement, and researchers are working on new cell technologies that could push the efficiency of bifacial modules to 25% or higher [46, 135].
Bifacial solar cells encased in a glass/backsheet structure provide more power under standard test conditions (STC) than glass/glass PV bifacial modules. However, glass/glass PV modules with bifacial solar cells deliver extra power in outdoor settings due to absorption from the module's rear side.