Inhomogeneous rear reflector induced hot-spot risk and power loss in building-integrated bifacial c-Si photovoltaic modules

Chungil Kim, Myeong Sang Jeong, Jaehwan Ko, MyeongGeun Ko, Min Gu Kang and Hyung-Jun Song

Renewable Energy, 2021, vol. 163, issue C, 825-835

Abstract: A building-integrated bifacial photovoltaic (BF-PV) module is a strong candidate for realizing zero-energy buildings because it can achieve high power output by collecting light from both the front and rear sides of the building. However, harvesting non-uniformly distributed rear incident light is a very challenge issue in BF-PV. In this study, we empirically investigated the effect of an inhomogeneous rear surface on the power and reliability of a BF-PV. The mini-module test showed that a non-uniform rear reflection triggers a current mismatch among cells, resulting in the overheating of cells above the low reflectance surface. In particular, a large difference in the reflectance inside the rear reflector installed close to the module increases a hot-spot risk. This risk can be reduced by minimizing the variation of the reflectance, as well as elongating the distance between the cell and the reflector. A theoretical calculation based on empirical results indicated that an inhomogeneous rear reflector results in power loss or a reliability issue in BF-PV modules. Hence, the rear surface of a BF-PV module should be carefully designed or considered in order to maximize its performance and reliability.

Keywords: Bifacial photovoltaic; Building-integrated photovoltaic; Rear surface reflection; Hotspot (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:163:y:2021:i:c:p:825-835

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.020

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