Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules and Systems
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Task 13 Performance, Operation and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules and Systems: Experience and Results from International Research and Pilot Applications 2021 Report IEA-PVPS T13-14:2021 PVPS Task 13 Performance, Operation and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems – Bifacial PV Modules and Systems What is IEA PVPS TCP? The International Energy Agency (IEA), founded in 1974, is an autonomous body within the framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) was created with a belief that the future o f energy security and sustainability starts with global collaboration. The programme is made up of 6.000 experts across government, academia, and industry dedicated to advancing common research and the application of specific energy technologies. The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) is one of the TCP’s within the IEA and was established in 1993. The mission of the programme is to “enhance the international collaborative efforts which facilitate the role of photovoltaic solar energy as a cornerstone in the transition to sustainable energy systems.” In order to achieve this, the Programme’s participants have undertaken a variety of joint research projects in PV power systems applications. The overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee, comprised of one dele- gate from each country or organisation member, which designates distinct ‘Tasks,’ that may be research projects or activity a reas. The IEA PVPS participating countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States of America. The European Commission, Solar Power Europe, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Cop- per Alliance are also members. Visit us at: www.iea-pvps.org What is IEA PVPS Task 13? Within the framework of IEA PVPS, Task 13 aims to provide support to market actors working to improve the operation, the reliability and the quality of PV components and systems. Operational data from PV systems in different climate zones compiled within the project will help provide the basis for estimates of the current situation regarding PV reliability and performance. The general setting of Task 13 provides a common platform to summarize and report on technical aspects affecting the quality, performance, reliability and lifetime of PV systems in a wide variety of environments and applications. By working together across national boundaries we can all take advantage of research and experience from each member country and combine and integrate this knowledge into valuable summaries of best practices and methods for ensuring PV systems perform at their optimum and continue to provide competitive return on investment. Task 13 has so far managed to create the right framework for the calculations of various parameters that can give an indication of the quality of PV components and systems. The framework is now there and can be used by the industry who has expressed appreciation towards the results included in the high-quality reports. The IEA PVPS countries participating in Task 13 are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United States of America. DISCLAIMER The IEA PVPS TCP is organised under the auspices of the International Energy Agency (IEA) but is functionally and legally autonomous. Views, findings and publica- tions of the IEA PVPS TCP do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the IEA Secretariat or its individual member countries. COVER PICTURE Bifacial photovoltaic modules at Sandia National Laboratories, Joshua S. Stein ISBN 978-3-907281-03-1 Task 13 Performance, Operation and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems – Bifacial PV Modules and Systems INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PROGRAMME IEA PVPS Task 13 Performance, Operation and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules and Systems: Experi- ence and Results from International Research and Pilot Applications Report IEA-PVPS T13-14:2021 April 2021 ISBN 978-3-907281-03-1 Task 13 Performance, Operation and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems – Bifacial PV Modules and Systems AUTHORS Main Authors Joshua S. Stein, Sandia National Laboratories, USA Christian Reise, Fraunhofer ISE, Freiburg, Germany Johanna Bonilla Castro, TÜV Rheinland, Cologne, Germany Gabi Friesen, SUPSI, Switzerland Giosuè Maugeri, RSE, Italy Elías Urrejola, ATAMOSTEC, Chile Samuli Ranta, TUAS, Finland Contributing Authors Muhammad A. Alam, Purdue University, USA Marc Abou Anoma, SunPower Corporation, USA Silvana Ayala Pelaez, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA Djaber Berrian, ISC Konstanz, Germany Emmanuelle Bertrand, LABORELEC, Belgium Matthieu Chiodetti, EDF, France Dimitrij Chudinzow, University of Stuttgart, Germany Hervé Colin, INES, France Ignacia Devoto, ISC Konstanz, Germany Roger French, Case Western Reserve University, USA Edward Fuentealba, University of Antofagasta, Chile Florent Haffner, INES, France Andreas Halm, ISC Konstanz, Germany Joan Haysom, J.L. Richards & Associates Limited, Canada Karin Hinzer, University of Ottawa, Canada Imre T. Horvath, IMEC, Belgium Hugo Huerta, TUAS, Finland M. Ryyan Khan, Purdue University, USA Markus Klenk, ZHAW, Switzerland Radovan Kopecek, ISC Konstanz, Germany Joris Libal, ISC Konstanz, Germany Mattias Lindh, RISE, Sweden Bill Marion, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA Mark Mikofski, DNV GL, USA 4 Task 13 Performance, Operation and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems – Bifacial PV Modules and Systems Ruben Roldan Molinero, SUPSI, Switzerland Mark Monarch, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA Anja Neubert, DNV GL, Germany M. Tahir Patel, Purdue University, USA Anna Malou Petersson, RISE, Sweden Gizem Nogay Poulin, CSEN, Switzerland Santhosh Ramesh, IMEC, Belgium Oume Lgheit Rhazi, EDF, France Nicholas Riedel-Lyngskær, Fotonik Technical University of Denmark, Denmark Daniel Riley, Sandia National Laboratories, USA Annie C.J. Russell, University of Ottawa, Canada Andreas Schneider, ISC Konstanz, Germany Cameron T. Stark, Sandia National Laboratories, USA Tudor Timofte, ISC Konstanz, Germany Daniel Tune, ISC Konstanz, Germany Jill Tymchak, J.L. Richards & Associates Limited, Canada Christopher E. Valdivia, University of Ottawa, Canada Felipe Valencia, ATAMOSTEC, Chile Menghong Wang, Case Western Reserve University, USA Editors Joshua S. Stein, Sandia National Laboratories, USA Boris Farnung, VDE Renewables, Germany 5 Task 13 Performance, Operation and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems – Bifacial PV Modules and Systems TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. 7 List of abbreviations ................................................................................................. 8 Executive summary ................................................................................................ 12 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 15 Bifacial cell types ............................................................................................. 16 2.1 Introduction to bifacial cells ..................................................................... 16 2.2 PERC cells ............................................................................................. 17 2.3 N-PERT .................................................................................................. 19 2.4 Hetero-junction cells ............................................................................... 20 2.5 Thermodynamic limits of a bifacial solar cell ........................................... 21 Bifacial modules .............................................................................................. 28 3.1 Test standards and certification of bifacial PV modules .......................... 28 3.2 Bifacial cells in modules with white encapsulant ..................................... 36 3.3 Bifacial-specific cell and module degradation issues .............................. 38 Bifacial systems ............................................................................................... 42 4.1 Albedo .................................................................................................... 42 4.2 Bifacial gain ............................................................................................ 44 4.3 Nonuniform rear-side irradiance ............................................................. 46 4.4 Bifacial system maximum currents ......................................................... 51 4.5 Fixed-tilt systems .................................................................................... 54 4.6 Single-axis tracking systems .................................................................. 62 4.7 Optimization and performance of bifacial solar cells: A global perspective ............................................................................................................... 65 International survey of bifacial PV configurations and field performance .......... 74 Bifacial modeling Comparison ........................................................................