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Bifacial panels really work!

millsan1

millsan1

Solar Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
405
Location
PA
We had a good snow yesterday.

I have 400 Watt Canadian Solar bifacial panels ground mounted.

So far, this winter, if I see 2000 watts out of each string of 7, I am happy.

With all this snow and reflection, I am seeing 2800+ watts out of each string.

Cool.
 
Awesome, Bifacial is definitely the best way to go nowadays.

Especially if you live in an area with less sunlight and/or an area that gets lots of snow.
They're worth it just for the benefits with the ground reflection due to the snow alone.

⠀
 
Andrewr05 said:
Awesome, Bifacial is definitely the best way to go nowadays.

Especially if you live in an area with less sunlight and/or an area that gets lots of snow.
They're worth it just for the benefits with the ground reflection due to the snow alone.

⠀
Click to expand...
Even on a roof install? I'm in a northern state and I'm debating bifacials.
 
Rumast21 said:
Even on a roof install? I'm in a northern state and I'm debating bifacials.
Click to expand...
It matters less but you will still see some gain, especially on light colored roofs with significant panel spacing.

There's not much reason to NOT go bifacial unless you have some unusual requirements (want to reduce weed growth under panels or something.)
 
billvon said:
It matters less but you will still see some gain, especially on light colored roofs with significant panel spacing.

There's not much reason to NOT go bifacial unless you have some unusual requirements (want to reduce weed growth under panels or something.)
Click to expand...

Also price. If a bifacial panel of let's say 395W is $100 and a regular panel of 435W is the same price, might not make much difference to go bifacial. But the price gap is quickly closing. You can get cheap new bifacial panels for under $0.25/W right now
 
I got 4100W out of my 3560W bifacials last month, we had perfect conditions, cold, sunny and snow on the ground. Without snow I think my best output was right at the rated wattage.
 
i have 10 400w Canadian solar bifacials just laying on the ground propped up by cinder blocks and i usually get 2800 watts on a perfect day but with snow on the grounds i see 35-3600 watts i love them and will never buy anything else. unless of course they come out with something better somehow.
 
MidwestBest said:
i have 10 400w Canadian solar bifacials just laying on the ground propped up by cinder blocks and i usually get 2800 watts on a perfect day but with snow on the grounds i see 35-3600 watts i love them and will never buy anything else. unless of course they come out with something better somehow.
Click to expand...
Wow, that's significant. You guys are making me want to change my plans. But I don't have any snow in my area
 
Osmethne said:
There is one downside to bifacials, since they have two panes of glass they're considerably heavier than monofacial. Could be a problem for roof mounting.
Click to expand...
Yeah, my panels were 70lbs each and big. Wrestling them on the roof solo was fun...... pause..... not!
 
Siamac said:
Wow, that's significant. You guys are making me want to change my plans. But I don't have any snow in my area
Click to expand...
well a few days after typing my message about how mine are just on the ground we had a wind storm and now there are only 9 lol 2 of them flew into the field and shattered one and the other ripped the cable out. luckily i was able to re solder it and seal it back up with silicon and works just like new.
 
My 3.6KW bifacial array recently gave me some spikes above 4KW, including a 4.33KW output during some cloud edge situations. Pretty cool to see, but it is quite transient.
 
Monday I saw my 540 Zenshine bifacials go 1.5 % over nominal rating on the ground mount. Looking to use the 12 I have leftover from my pallet for solar fence ac coupled to the sol-ark 15k to boost cloudy day production.
 
Got 317kWh out of my 44kWp array two days ago. Clipped my two Deye 12Ks (=Sol-Ark 15K) for two hours plus kept my two Ac coupled Bluesun 15Ks at 12kW for that two hours too. So producing 48kW for two hours (10-12). Got fresh snow but only about -5C. Almost year ago when my setup was commissioned it made over 330kWh for almost a week, but it was super sunny with fresh snow and -25C.
 
just a thought to keep in mind for those experiencing nice returns in snowy conditions; the cold temperature also boosts panel performance.
 
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