Are bifacial and monofacial solar panels the same?

Bifacial solar panels generate solar power from both sides of the panel while monofacial panels generate power only from the side facing the sun. Are bifacial solar panels more efficient?

What are bifacial solar panels?

Bifacial solar modules are modules that generate energy on both their front and rear sides, based on solar cells with two active sides. While the energy production of traditional monofacial solar panels is relatively easy to forecast, bifacial panels provide a bit more of a challenge.

Are bifacial solar panels a good investment?

And, as we’ll discuss, bifacial panels are also more expensive than traditional single-face panels, which can affect the breakeven point of your investment. Bifacial solar panels can capture light energy on both sides of the panel, whereas monofacial panels (AKA traditional solar panels) only absorb sunlight on the front.

How to calculate bifacial solar power output?

The general formula for determining the total energy generation of a bifacial solar panel is the sum of the energy output on the front side and the energy output on the rear side. However, as the energy output on the rear side is much more difficult to calculate, the total calculation of bifacial power output requires some industry innovation.

Are bifacial panels more energy efficient?

With more surface area available to absorb sunlight, bifacial panels are generally more efficient than traditional monofacial panels. For example, a study by solar panel manufacturer LONGi found that bifacial panels produced 11% more energy than standard panels as part of a ground-mounted installation.

Are bifacial solar panels suitable for rooftop installations?

Bifacial solar panels are not suitable for rooftop installations but may work well with residential ground-mounted solar systems. The ideal use case for bifacial solar panels is in commercial and utility-scale solar installations.