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Numerical Modeling of Bifacial PV String Performance: Perimeter Effect and Influence of Uniaxial Solar Trackers

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  • Fabio Ricco Galluzzo

    (Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi—Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Zona Industriale, Ottava Strada n. 5, 95121 Catania, Italy
    Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Via S. Sofia, 64, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Pier Enrico Zani

    (ENEL Green Power, Contrada Blocco Torrazze—Z.I., 95121 Catania, Italy)

  • Marina Foti

    (ENEL Green Power, Contrada Blocco Torrazze—Z.I., 95121 Catania, Italy)

  • Andrea Canino

    (ENEL Green Power, Contrada Blocco Torrazze—Z.I., 95121 Catania, Italy)

  • Cosimo Gerardi

    (ENEL Green Power, Contrada Blocco Torrazze—Z.I., 95121 Catania, Italy)

  • Salvatore Lombardo

    (Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi—Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Zona Industriale, Ottava Strada n. 5, 95121 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

The bifacial photovoltaic (PV) systems have recently met large interest. The performance of such systems heavily depends on the installation conditions and, in particular, on the albedo radiation collected by the module rear side. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to have an accurate performance model. To date, in the scientific literature, numerous models have been proposed and experimental data collected to study and optimize bifacial PV system performance. Currently, 3D and 2D models of bifacial PV devices exist. Though the former are more mathematically complex, they can lead to more accurate results, since they generally allow to fully consider the main aspects influencing a bifacial PV system performance. Recently, we have proposed and validated through experimental data a 3D model tested as a function of module height, tilt angle, and ground albedo. In this work, through such a model, we studied the role played by the perimeter zones surrounding the PV string, by considering PV strings of 30 or 60 modules. We considered the cases of fixed installation with optimal PV module tilt and of installation with uniaxial horizontal solar tracker. We evaluated the PV energy yield as a function of the size of the perimeter zones for the two cases, i.e., both with and without the solar tracker. In optimal perimeter conditions, we then studied the behavior of bifacial and mono-facial PV strings by varying the geographical location in a large latitude range.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Ricco Galluzzo & Pier Enrico Zani & Marina Foti & Andrea Canino & Cosimo Gerardi & Salvatore Lombardo, 2020. "Numerical Modeling of Bifacial PV String Performance: Perimeter Effect and Influence of Uniaxial Solar Trackers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:4:p:869-:d:321421
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    References listed on IDEAS

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