Performance of Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules on a Dual-Axis Tracker in a High-Latitude, High-Albedo Environment

Authors

Laurie Burnham, Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico
Daniel Riley, Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico
Bevan Walker, Evolve re
Joshua M. Pearce, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-1-2019

Journal

Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference

First Page

1320

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8980964

Last Page

1327

Abstract

Bifacial photovoltaic dual-axis tracker systems have the potential to out-perform other module/mounting configurations at high latitudes, where the reflectivity of snow in winter boosts bifacial performance and the low solar angle-of-incidence favors dual-axis tracking. Two years of empirical data from dual-axis experimental systems in Vermont support this assertion, demonstrating that bifacial modules on a dual-axis tracker produced 14 percent more electricity in a year than their monofacial counterparts and as much as 40 percent during the peak winter months. These bifacial gains are in addition to the estimated 35-40 percent energy gains of a dual-axis tracker relative to a fixed-tilt system. Such findings suggest that bifacial two-axis tracker systems could be economically attractive in northern latitudes, with high-efficiency modules compensating for the trackers' installation and maintenance costs, and future design improvements enabling further performance gains.