IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v281y2021ics0306261920315117.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Comparative analysis of monofacial and bifacial photovoltaic modules for floating power plants

Author

Listed:
  • Tina, Giuseppe Marco
  • Bontempo Scavo, Fausto
  • Merlo, Leonardo
  • Bizzarri, Fabrizio

Abstract

The aim of this study is to create usable commercial simulation software tools for photovoltaic (PV) systems even in the case of floating applications. Using the experimental data of a plant installed at the “Enel Innovation Lab” in Catania (IT), adequate heat exchange coefficients of the software's thermal models were found, which allowed us to take into account the thermal effects for these types of installations. An optimization of the sizes for mono- and bifacial floating systems was carried out. The simulated data for a ground system were compared with the floating data through performance indices. In addition, monofacial models were compared with bifacial. The optimized variables are the tilt angle and the pitch, whereas for the bifacial systems, the module elevation is also considered. The albedo is a sensitive factor mainly for the bifacial modules, so it was considered a parameter in the different design solutions. The simulations were performed by two specialized commercial software programs, where different PV system models are implemented. The normalized annual energy yield was chosen as a meaningful parameter with which to compare the different solutions. As the analysis of PV systems is highly site dependent, the study was developed for two locations, characterized by different diffuse and albedo solar irradiance components, specifically at high latitudes (Frankfurt, DE) and at intermediate latitudes (Catania, IT).

Suggested Citation

  • Tina, Giuseppe Marco & Bontempo Scavo, Fausto & Merlo, Leonardo & Bizzarri, Fabrizio, 2021. "Comparative analysis of monofacial and bifacial photovoltaic modules for floating power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:281:y:2021:i:c:s0306261920315117
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116084
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261920315117
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116084?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patel, M. Tahir & Vijayan, Ramachandran A. & Asadpour, Reza & Varadharajaperumal, M. & Khan, M. Ryyan & Alam, Muhammad A., 2020. "Temperature-dependent energy gain of bifacial PV farms: A global perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    2. Kumar, Rakesh & Rosen, Marc A., 2011. "A critical review of photovoltaic–thermal solar collectors for air heating," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(11), pages 3603-3614.
    3. Chin, Vun Jack & Salam, Zainal & Ishaque, Kashif, 2015. "Cell modelling and model parameters estimation techniques for photovoltaic simulator application: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 500-519.
    4. Zhou, Yanlai & Chang, Fi-John & Chang, Li-Chiu & Lee, Wei-De & Huang, Angela & Xu, Chong-Yu & Guo, Shenglian, 2020. "An advanced complementary scheme of floating photovoltaic and hydropower generation flourishing water-food-energy nexus synergies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    5. Kumar, Manish & Kumar, Arun, 2019. "Experimental validation of performance and degradation study of canal-top photovoltaic system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C), pages 102-118.
    6. Trapani, Kim & Millar, Dean L. & Smith, Helen C.M., 2013. "Novel offshore application of photovoltaics in comparison to conventional marine renewable energy technologies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 879-888.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. López, Mario & Claus, Rubén & Soto, Fernando & Hernández-Garrastacho, Zenaida A. & Cebada-Relea, Alejandro & Simancas, Orlando, 2024. "Advancing offshore solar energy generation: The HelioSea concept," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    2. Sunny, Mahmood Reaz & Kabir, Md Ahsan & Sarker, Md Shakowat Zaman & Aghaloo, Kamaleddin & Ali, Tausif, 2024. "Feasibility study of floating solar photovoltaic systems using techno-economic assessment and multi-criteria decision-making method: A case study of Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    3. Tina, Giuseppe Marco & Bontempo Scavo, Fausto & Merlo, Leonardo & Bizzarri, Fabrizio, 2021. "Analysis of water environment on the performances of floating photovoltaic plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 281-295.
    4. Valentina González Becerra & Patricio Valdivia-Lefort & Rodrigo Barraza & Jesús García García, 2024. "Electrical Model Analysis for Bifacial PV Modules Using Real Performance Data in Laboratory," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Emad M. Ahmed & Mokhtar Aly & Manar Mostafa & Hegazy Rezk & Hammad Alnuman & Waleed Alhosaini, 2022. "An Accurate Model for Bifacial Photovoltaic Panels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-27, December.
    6. Rahaman, Md Atiqur & Chambers, Terrence L. & Fekih, Afef & Wiecheteck, Giovana & Carranza, Gabriel & Possetti, Gustavo Rafael Collere, 2023. "Floating photovoltaic module temperature estimation: Modeling and comparison," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 162-180.
    7. Elmehdi Mouhib & Leonardo Micheli & Florencia M. Almonacid & Eduardo F. Fernández, 2022. "Overview of the Fundamentals and Applications of Bifacial Photovoltaic Technology: Agrivoltaics and Aquavoltaics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-30, November.
    8. Socrates Kaplanis & Eleni Kaplani & John K. Kaldellis, 2023. "PV Temperature Prediction Incorporating the Effect of Humidity and Cooling Due to Seawater Flow and Evaporation on Modules Simulating Floating PV Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-19, June.
    9. Shanka Vasuki, Sathya & Levell, Jack & Santbergen, Rudi & Isabella, Olindo, 2025. "A technical review on the energy yield estimation of offshore floating photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    10. Muhammad Hanif Ainun Azhar & Salh Alhammadi & Seokjin Jang & Jitaek Kim & Jungtaek Kim & Woo Kyoung Kim, 2023. "Long-Term Field Observation of the Power Generation and System Temperature of a Roof-Integrated Photovoltaic System in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, June.
    11. Jouttijärvi, Sami & Lobaccaro, Gabriele & Kamppinen, Aleksi & Miettunen, Kati, 2022. "Benefits of bifacial solar cells combined with low voltage power grids at high latitudes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    12. Osama, Amr & Tina, Giuseppe Marco & Gagliano, Antonio, 2025. "Thermal models for mono/bifacial modules in ground/floating photovoltaic systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    13. Zhong, Jianmei & Zhang, Wei & Xie, Lingzhi & Zhao, Oufan & Wu, Xin & Zeng, Xiding & Guo, Jiahong, 2023. "Development and challenges of bifacial photovoltaic technology and application in buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    14. Minan Tang & Jinping Li & Jiandong Qiu & Xi Guo & Bo An & Yaqi Zhang & Wenjuan Wang, 2023. "MPPT Strategy of Waterborne Bifacial Photovoltaic Power Generation System Based on Economic Model Predictive Control," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-20, December.
    15. Wei, Yujia & Khojasteh, Danial & Windt, Christian & Huang, Luofeng, 2025. "An interdisciplinary literature review of floating solar power plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    16. Hooshmandzade, Niusha & Motevali, Ali & Reza Mousavi Seyedi, Seyed & Biparva, Pouria, 2021. "Influence of single and hybrid water-based nanofluids on performance of microgrid photovoltaic/thermal system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    17. Makhija, Amandeep Singh & Tiwari, Vivek & Bohra, Shabbir S., 2025. "Evaluating performance-impacting parameters for water-mounted solar PV systems using response surface methodology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    18. Bi, Cheng & Law, Adrian Wing-Keung, 2023. "Co-locating offshore wind and floating solar farms – Effect of high wind and wave conditions on solar power performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    19. C.J., Ramanan & Lim, King Hann & Kurnia, Jundika Candra & Roy, Sukanta & Bora, Bhaskor Jyoti & Medhi, Bhaskar Jyoti, 2024. "Towards sustainable power generation: Recent advancements in floating photovoltaic technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    20. Cáceres González, Rodrigo & Sarmiento-Laurel, Cristóbal & Alcayaga, Hernán & Díaz, Andrés J. & Pizarro, Alonso & Crespo Fuentes, Juan & Moya Caro, Alicia & Vásquez Páez, Camila & Bustos Olavarría, Fab, 2025. "Exploring climate-driven performance of floating photovoltaic systems: Energy production enhancement and evaporation reduction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 386(C).
    21. Khalifeh Soltani, Sayed Rashid & Mostafaeipour, Ali & Mishra, Phoolendra & Alidoost, Sara & Jahangiri, Mehdi & Abrisham Kar, Mohammad, 2025. "Green hydrogen production and prediction using floating photovoltaic panels on wastewater ponds," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    22. Tina, Giuseppe Marco & Osama, Amr & Mannino, Gaetano & Gagliano, Antonio & Cucuzza, Alessio Vincenzo & Bizzarri, Fabrizio, 2025. "Thermal comparison of floating bifacial and monofacial photovoltaic modules considering two laying configurations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 389(C).
    23. Xu, Lijie & Ji, Jie & Yuan, Chengqing & Cai, Jingyong & Dai, Leyang, 2023. "Electrical and thermal performance of multidimensional semi-transparent CdTe PV window on offshore passenger ships in moored and sailing condition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    24. Maarten Dörenkämper & Simona Villa & Jan Kroon & Minne M. de Jong, 2024. "The Impact of System Sizing and Water Temperature on the Thermal Characteristics of Floating Photovoltaic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-13, April.
    25. Ma, Chao & Liu, Zhao, 2022. "Water-surface photovoltaics: Performance, utilization, and interactions with water eco-environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ma, Chao & Liu, Zhao, 2022. "Water-surface photovoltaics: Performance, utilization, and interactions with water eco-environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Laura Essak & Aritra Ghosh, 2022. "Floating Photovoltaics: A Review," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Xu, Ning & Ji, Jie & Sun, Wei & Huang, Wenzhu & Li, Jing & Jin, Zhuling, 2016. "Numerical simulation and experimental validation of a high concentration photovoltaic/thermal module based on point-focus Fresnel lens," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 269-281.
    4. Choi, Seok Min & Park, Chang-Dae & Cho, Sung-Hoon & Lim, Byung-Ju, 2022. "Effects of wind loads on the solar panel array of a floating photovoltaic system – Experimental study and economic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    5. Galal Borham Wereda & Ibrahim Mohamed Diaaeldin & Othman A. M. Omar & Mahmoud A. Attia & Ahmed O. Badr, 2025. "A Novel Optimization Approach Using Chaos Game Optimization Algorithm for Parameters Estimation of Photovoltaic Cells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-19, February.
    6. Yu, Kunjie & Liang, J.J. & Qu, B.Y. & Cheng, Zhiping & Wang, Heshan, 2018. "Multiple learning backtracking search algorithm for estimating parameters of photovoltaic models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 408-422.
    7. Mojiri, Ahmad & Stanley, Cameron & Rodriguez-Sanchez, David & Everett, Vernie & Blakers, Andrew & Rosengarten, Gary, 2016. "A spectral-splitting PV–thermal volumetric solar receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 63-71.
    8. Shanka Vasuki, Sathya & Levell, Jack & Santbergen, Rudi & Isabella, Olindo, 2025. "A technical review on the energy yield estimation of offshore floating photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    9. Ulloa, Carlos & Nuñez, José M. & Lin, Chengxian & Rey, Guillermo, 2018. "AHP-based design method of a lightweight, portable and flexible air-based PV-T module for UAV shelter hangars," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 767-780.
    10. Wang, Chizhong & Chen, Heng & Wang, Zhengwei & Gao, Yue & Zhang, Guoqiang, 2025. "Economic assessment and grid parity analysis of photovoltaic power generation considering tradable green certificate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 382(C).
    11. En-Jui Liu & Yan-Hao Huang & Wei-Lun Lin & Chen-Kai Wen & Chun-I Lin, 2025. "Rapid, Precise Parameter Optimization and Performance Prediction for Multi-Diode Photovoltaic Model Using Puma Optimizer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-31, May.
    12. M. A. Tawfik & Khaled M. Oweda & M. K. Abd El-Wahab & W. E. Abd Allah, 2023. "A New Mode of a Natural Convection Solar Greenhouse Dryer for Domestic Usage: Performance Assessment for Grape Drying," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-27, May.
    13. Ahmed Ginidi & Sherif M. Ghoneim & Abdallah Elsayed & Ragab El-Sehiemy & Abdullah Shaheen & Attia El-Fergany, 2021. "Gorilla Troops Optimizer for Electrically Based Single and Double-Diode Models of Solar Photovoltaic Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-28, August.
    14. Blaifi, Sid-ali & Mellit, Adel & Taghezouit, Bilal & Moulahoum, Samir & Hafdaoui, Hichem, 2025. "A simple non-parametric model for photovoltaic output power prediction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    15. Ryyan Khan, M. & Didarul Islam, Mohammad & Sajjad, Redwan N., 2025. "Tilt and light-scattering dependent physics-based model for the temporal evolution of soiling loss of solar panels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    16. Ma, Tao & Li, Meng & Kazemian, Arash, 2020. "Photovoltaic thermal module and solar thermal collector connected in series to produce electricity and high-grade heat simultaneously," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    17. Moreira, Hugo Soeiro & Lucas de Souza Silva, João & Gomes dos Reis, Marcos Vinicios & de Bastos Mesquita, Daniel & Kikumoto de Paula, Bruno Henrique & Villalva, Marcelo Gradella, 2021. "Experimental comparative study of photovoltaic models for uniform and partially shading conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 58-73.
    18. Rounis, Efstratios Dimitrios & Athienitis, Andreas & Stathopoulos, Theodore, 2021. "Review of air-based PV/T and BIPV/T systems - Performance and modelling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1729-1753.
    19. Dong, Xiao-Jian & Shen, Jia-Ni & Ma, Zi-Feng & He, Yi-Jun, 2025. "Stochastic optimization of integrated electric vehicle charging stations under photovoltaic uncertainty and battery power constraints," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    20. Abu-Bakar, Siti Hawa & Muhammad-Sukki, Firdaus & Freier, Daria & Ramirez-Iniguez, Roberto & Mallick, Tapas Kumar & Munir, Abu Bakar & Mohd Yasin, Siti Hajar & Abubakar Mas'ud, Abdullahi & Bani, Nurul , 2016. "Performance analysis of a solar window incorporating a novel rotationally asymmetrical concentrator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 181-192.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:281:y:2021:i:c:s0306261920315117. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.