Modelling of bifacial photovoltaic farms to evaluate the profitability of East/West vertical configuration

Modelling of bifacial photovoltaic farms to evaluate the profitability of East/West vertical configuration

Baricchio, M. (TU Delft Team Jan-Willem van Wingerden)
Korevaar, Marc (Kipp & Zonen)
Babal, Pavel (Kipp & Zonen)
Ziar, H. (TU Delft Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)

2024

East/West (E/W) vertical bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules can achieve higher profits than the conventional North/South (N/S) tilted configuration depending on the design choices and external conditions. In this study a model based on 2D view factor concept is developed to estimate the power generated by a large-scale bifacial PV farm, considering the non-uniformity of the incident irradiance and the spectral impact. A validation using measured data is performed, focusing on the non-uniformity of the rear irradiance. This model is used to compare the profitability between E/W vertical and N/S tilted PV farm configurations, considering higher prices during noon with respect to morning/evening periods. The results identify the ratio between these two price values as the key variable that influences the comparison between the PV farm configurations. Specifically, a sufficiently high price ratio ensures the higher profitability of E/W vertical modules, however, the exact value is dependent on the location and the design variables. In general, higher row-to-row distance and lower diffuse fraction enhance the profitability of the E/W vertical over the N/S tilted configuration. On the other hand, elevation of the modules, curtailment strategies and hybrid solutions have a minor influence.

Bifacial PV modules
PV modelling
View factor
Solar electricity market
Vertical modules

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:87db1969-7094-4508-a838-d210ca644211

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112457

0038-092X

Solar Energy, 272

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2024 M. Baricchio, Marc Korevaar, Pavel Babal, H. Ziar