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Performance of Monofacial and Bifacial Silicon Heterojunction Modules under Desert Conditions and the Impact of PV Soiling

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  • Amir A. Abdallah

    (Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Maulid Kivambe

    (Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Brahim Aïssa

    (Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Benjamin W. Figgis

    (Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

Abstract

The performance and reliability of photovoltaic (PV) modules in a desert climate depends, among other factors, on the solar irradiance, operating temperature, and soiling rate. Since the impacts of these environmental factors depend on the type of PV module technology, an assessment of the PV technology to be deployed in the desert climate is crucial for the bankability of PV projects. In this work, the indoor and outdoor performance of monofacial and bifacial silicon heterojunction PV module technologies were assessed. For the indoor measurements, a comparison of the current-voltage (IV) characteristics was performed at standard testing condition and at different temperatures. The two module technologies showed similar temperature coefficients and expected performance within the measurement uncertainty. Comparing the specific energy yield of the modules installed in the Outdoor Test Facility (OTF), the bifacial module showed a 15% higher energy yield than the monofacial module and is attributed to the contribution of the bifacial rear side, thanks to the reflected irradiance received by the bifacial module and the high albedo of 0.43 measured at the OTF. Moreover, the bifacial module was found to be less sensitive to the PV soiling than the monofacial module. The results showed that the frequency of module cleaning could be reduced for the bifacial module compared with the monofacial module, resulting in a remarkable decrease in the module cleaning cost and PV site Operation and Maintenance cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Amir A. Abdallah & Maulid Kivambe & Brahim Aïssa & Benjamin W. Figgis, 2023. "Performance of Monofacial and Bifacial Silicon Heterojunction Modules under Desert Conditions and the Impact of PV Soiling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8436-:d:1153163
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    1. Muehleisen, W. & Loeschnig, J. & Feichtner, M. & Burgers, A.R. & Bende, E.E. & Zamini, S. & Yerasimou, Y. & Kosel, J. & Hirschl, C. & Georghiou, G.E., 2021. "Energy yield measurement of an elevated PV system on a white flat roof and a performance comparison of monofacial and bifacial modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 613-619.
    2. Hyeonwook Park & Sungho Chang & Sanghwan Park & Woo Kyoung Kim, 2019. "Outdoor Performance Test of Bifacial n-Type Silicon Photovoltaic Modules," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-10, November.
    3. Gu, Wenbo & Li, Senji & Liu, Xing & Chen, Zhenwu & Zhang, Xiaochun & Ma, Tao, 2021. "Experimental investigation of the bifacial photovoltaic module under real conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 1111-1122.
    4. Katsaounis, Th. & Kotsovos, K. & Gereige, I. & Basaheeh, A. & Abdullah, M. & Khayat, A. & Al-Habshi, E. & Al-Saggaf, A. & Tzavaras, A.E., 2019. "Performance assessment of bifacial c-Si PV modules through device simulations and outdoor measurements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1285-1298.
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    Cited by:

    1. Osama Ayadi & Bilal Rinchi & Sameer Al-Dahidi & Mohammed E. B. Abdalla & Mohammed Al-Mahmodi, 2024. "Techno-Economic Assessment of Bifacial Photovoltaic Systems under Desert Climatic Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Dariusz Kurz & Arkadiusz Dobrzycki & Ewelina Krawczak & Jarosław Jajczyk & Jakub Mielczarek & Waldemar Woźniak & Michał Sąsiadek & Olga Orynycz & Karol Tucki & Ewa Badzińska, 2025. "An Analysis of the Increase in Energy Efficiency of Photovoltaic Installations by Using Bifacial Modules," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-25, March.
    3. Salma Riad & Naoual Bekkioui & Merlin Simo-Tagne & Ndukwu Macmanus Chinenye & Hamid Ez-Zahraouy, 2025. "Artificial Intelligence Prediction Analysis of Daily Power Photovoltaic Bifacial Modules in Two Moroccan Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-22, July.
    4. A. F. Almarshoud & M. A. Abdel-halim & Radwan A. Almasri & Ahmed M. Alshwairekh, 2024. "Exergy and Energy Analysis of Bifacial PV Module Performance on a Cloudy Day in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-13, August.
    5. A. F. Almarshoud & M. A. Abdel-halim & Radwan A. Almasri & Ahmed M. Alshwairekh, 2024. "Experimental Study of Bifacial Photovoltaic Module Performance on a Sunny Day with Varying Backgrounds Using Exergy and Energy Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Seungmin Lee & Garam Kim & Seungwoo Son & Junghun Lee, 2025. "Comparative Analysis of the Substitution Effect of Smart Inverter-Based Energy Storage Systems on the Improvement of Distribution System Hosting Capacity Using Vertical Photovoltaic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    7. Seungmin Lee & Euichan Lee & Junghun Lee & Seongjun Park & Wonsik Moon, 2024. "Strategy for Enhancing Hosting Capacity of Distribution Lines Using a Vertical Photovoltaic System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.

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