Two-sided solar panels can capture sunlight not just from their sun-facing sides, but also light reflected off the ground onto the underside. They can tilt on an axis to always be pointed at an optimal angle to catch the sun’s rays. This allows them to produce 35% more energy compared to traditional single-sided panels.
1. Double-sided: The most striking feature of the bifacial solar panel is that it has two faces (or sides) capable of absorbing sunlight, one at the top and the other at the bottom of the panel. This increases the panel’s efficiency, as it can capture sunlight reflected off the ground, water, or other surfaces.
Double-sided solar panels can absorb energy from both sides: they absorb energy directly from the sun and also from the reflected energy off the ground on their rear side. The goal for any solar panel is to absorb as much energy from the sun as possible, and this design allows for an additional energy source.
The technology behind solar panels continues to evolve and improve. Manufacturers are now able to produce bifacial panels, which feature energy-producing solar cells on both sides of the panel. With two faces capable of absorbing sunlight, bifacial solar panels can be more efficient than traditional monofacial panels – if used appropriately.
Researchers have looked at the benefits of combining solar panels that track the sun with double-sided solar panel arrays for the first time. This article is more than 2 years old.
Solar panels, which are commonly installed with a fixed orientation, absorb sunlight and convert it into energy. However, they can only convert about 22 percent of the light they absorb into energy because they capture light only from one side. This is dependent on the sun’s position in the sky.