Unlocking the potential of densely-packed bifacial curved photovoltaics: Holistic Modeling approach for optimizing energy yield and economic viability

Bifacial curved photovoltaic (bcPV) technology presents promising pathway for enhancing energy generation in space-constrained applications. However, the complex interplay between module curvature, bifacial gains, and array-level shading effects creates significant challenges for performance optimization and economic viability assessment. This study addresses this gap by developing dynamic optoelectronic model for bcPV systems, integrating micro-surface discretization with view factor analysis to resolve irradiance on both surfaces. The model incorporates detailed self-shading and inter-module shading for arrays, coupled with an equivalent electrical circuit. Key findings show that for single bcPV module, increasing the central angle to 110° enhances bifacial power gain to 27.71% but results in 1.77% net energy loss compared to flat bifacial module due to noon-time performance reduction. In array configurations under fixed land-area constraint, increasing curvature allows for higher installation density, boosting the total annual energy yield by up to 40.12% for 172° central angle compared to flat array. However, this gain is offset by higher capital costs and increased power loss ratios, resulting in levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) increase of up to 6.73%. The study reveals critical trade-off between energy density and economic efficiency, providing quantitative framework to guide the optimal design of bcPV systems for specific applications.