Investigation of the effects of installation parameters of bifacial PV systems on energy yield and determination of optimal tilt angle: A case study for Konya

Abstract

The application areas of photovoltaic (PV) systems that allow scalable modular design are becoming increasingly widespread, ranging from residential installations to utility-scale power generation. In recent years, bifacial PV (bPV) systems have gained widespread attention due to their capability to harvest solar irradiance from both the front and rear surfaces, thereby increasing energy yield per unit area. The technical potential of PV systems is location-specific and varies according to numerous climatic and geographical factors. In this study, a comparative technical analysis of bifacial and monofacial PV systems is conducted for Konya, one of the regions with the highest solar energy installation potential in Türkiye, using the System Advisor Model (SAM). Moreover, sensitivity analyses are performed for parameters such as albedo, ground clearance height, and ground coverage ratio (GCR), which affect the energy output of bifacial systems. According to the results, bPV systems provide 5.23% higher energy output compared to monofacial systems under commonly used PV installation conditions. However, it is possible to achieve up to 21.10% higher energy yield by adjusting parameters such as the albedo coefficient, ground clearance height, and GCR that influence bPV performance. These findings demonstrate that bPV systems can provide substantial energy gains under suitable design and site conditions, enabling more efficient utilization of solar energy resources

Keywords

• Bifacial systems
• Monofacial systems
• Photovoltaic
• Optimal tilt
• Technical feasibility

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