When you see solar panels on a roof, chances are they are single-sided monofacial solar panels. This is the type of solar panel that most people know, ones where sunlight hits the top face of the panel and turns energy into electricity. But did you know that there are other types of solar panels, known as bifacial solar panels, that have solar cells on both sides of the panel? This means that these panels can generate electricity both from direct sunlight, and from reflected light that bounces back from underneath the panel! Bifacial panels can be a great choice, but before considering them, you should find out if they are worth it for your home or business.
How Do Bifacial Systems Work?
Bifacial solar panels have a major difference from monofacial solar panels, which makes them able to convert more sunlight to energy. In bifacial solar panels, the opaque back sheet of traditional monofacial panels is switched out for a clear back sheet, so photons from reflected and diffused light that hit the back can generate power.
Making the Most of Bifacial Panels
Bifacial panels can generate more electricity than monofacial panels, but they need a different placement from other types of solar panels to work to their full potential. For example, the more vertically bifacial panels are tilted, the more light will reach the back of the panels, producing more energy.
In addition, bifacial panels perform best as ground mounts, or raised mounts on flat roofs. Tiled roofs are not ideal for this type of panel, because the panels will be flush against the roof, leaving little to no room for light to get to the back of the panels. That means that installing them on tiled roofs would essentially be a waste of money.
They also need to be mounted differently than other types of ground-mounted panels. In a traditional ground mount system, horizontal and vertical support bars are used to support the solar panels. But, because traditional racking takes up valuable electricity-producing real estate on the backs of bifacial panels, these systems often have different mounting systems. The support rails across the back are thinner, and there are fewer vertical support poles.
How Much Do Bifacial Solar Panels Cost?
According to a 2019 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the price difference between monofacial and bifacial panels ranges from $0.01 to $0.05 per watt for larger, utility-scale projects. The installation cost difference for smaller commercial or residential systems will be closer to $0.20 per watt. This might seem like a big difference, but you have to take into consideration that your system will be producing double the electricity thanks to the dual-sided panels turning more energy into electricity.
Should You Consider Bifacial Solar Panels?
Bifacial panels are great, but you have to weigh their pros and cons before making your decision. While they can produce more energy, there are other considerations, including:
- Bifacial panels cannot be installed as a typical roof-mounted system, because there needs to be some space between the backsides of the panels, so the reflected light can reach them. That means that monofacial panels are generally better for roof mounting.
- Monofacial panels are more affordable and more readily available.
- Both monofacial and bifacial panels have 25-30 year warranties.
These are all things to think about, and if you are weighing your options for which type of solar panel system to get, Go Solar Energy can help! Give us a few minutes and we can compare all of the different types of solar panels on the market and how much each company charges for them. We’ll set you up with a local agent who will go over all available plans to help you find the solar energy system that best suits your needs and finances. To get started, enter your zip code on the homepage, or to speak directly to one of our agents call (888) 290-3112.