Photovoltaic top with reflective ground plants

Why is vertical solar PV a good choice?

The higher bifacial energy gain of vertical solar PV makes it an appropriate choice for building (such as building façades) and highway (for example, noise barrier) applications. Regardless of the system size, the bifacial energy gain increased linearly with ground albedo.

Why do bifacial solar panels need reflective power?

With the spread of bifacial PV modules, the reflective power of the ground plays a decisive role in the efficiency of solar systems.

Could ground material increase bifacial solar albedo?

The engineering team at 7X Energy performed research on commercially available ground material that would increase the ground albedo of its bifacial PV solar plants currently in construction. (Read “ Satellite-derived datasets to measure ground albedo for bifacial PV ” from pv magazine Global .)

How to increase albedo in photovoltaic systems?

To increase the albedo in photovoltaic systems, we’re also working on partial coverings for the ground under the systems: by purposefully arranging white tarps or light-colored stones, it is indeed possible to increase the reflective power of the surface.

Does enhanced ground albedo reduce bifacial PV project's levelized cost of electricity?

Finally, a case study is discussed to perform a sensitivity analysis of a bifacial PV project's Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The sensitivity analysis shows that by using an enhanced ground albedo surface, the LCOE of the bifacial PV project can be reduced to 7.15p/kWh.

What is solar photovoltaic (PV) technology?

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has become a cornerstone of the renewable energy revolution, offering a clean, sustainable solution to the world's growing energy demands 1. At its core, solar PV harnesses the sun's energy, converting it directly into electricity through semiconducting materials.