Optimal Mounting Configuration of Fixed Bifacial PV Systems

In this work, the effects of configuration parameters upon the performance of a bifacial photovoltaic (PV) array is investigated. The relationships between different configuration parameters, including the tilt angle and height of modules, the distance between PV rows, the albedo of ground, and the total available solar radiation energy of the array are studied. A model is first developed for evaluating the total available solar radiation energy of a bifacial PV module, where the front-side irradiance of the module is calculated based on the Perez diffuse model, and the backside irradiance of the module is estimated based on the AOI (angle of incidence) correction factors. The effects of the configuration parameters on the solar radiation energy incident on the modules are investigated in detail. Based on the developed model, an optimal set of configuration parameters can be obtained for a given array in any location to achieve maximum energy generation.