Efficiency Enhancement of Tilted Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules with Horizontal Single-Axis Tracker—The Bifacial Companion Method

Shitao Wang, Yi Shen, Junbing Zhou, Caixia Li and Lijun Ma
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Shitao Wang: Department of Control Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Yi Shen: Department of Control Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Junbing Zhou: Arctech Solar Technology Limited Holdings, Kunshan 215331, China
Caixia Li: Arctech Solar Technology Limited Holdings, Kunshan 215331, China
Lijun Ma: Arctech Solar Technology Limited Holdings, Kunshan 215331, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: Bifacial photovoltaic modules combined with horizontal single-axis tracker are widely used to achieve the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE). In this study, to further increase the power production of photovoltaic systems, the bifacial companion method is proposed for light supplementation and the efficiency enhancement of tilted bifacial modules with a horizontal single-axis tracker. Specifically, a solar reflector is added to the rear end of the tilted bifacial photovoltaic module to guide the sunlight and promote power generation on the rear end. The technical feasibility of the proposed method is verified through optimal calculation and prototype experimental test. The theoretical calculation results suggest that the bifacial companion system is particularly suitable for mid-to-high latitude areas. The higher the latitude, the higher the gain ratio of generated power in the system; there is an optimal module tilt angle that maximizes the efficiency at different latitudes. The closer the module tilt angle to the optimal tilt angle, the higher the power generation efficiency of the system. Meanwhile, compared to the fixed solar reflector, the use of tracking solar reflector is more conducive to improving the power generation efficiency of the system. For the 37.5° latitude area, the annual average power generation gain ratio of the bifacial companion system with tracking solar reflector and fixed solar reflector can reach up to 30% and 17%, respectively. Additionally, the test results for the three sets of bifacial companion prototypes (module tilt angles of 10°, 20°, and 30°) with a fixed solar reflector show that the maximum gain ratio of daily power generation in August 2021 are 8.2%, 13%, and 18.1%, and that in September 2021 are 7%, 8.7% and 13.7%, respectively, which are consistent with the theoretical results.

Keywords: tilted horizontal single-axis tracker; photovoltaic support system; bifacial photovoltaic module; bifacial companion; fixed/tracking solar reflector; light supplementation and efficiency enhancement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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