Bifacial Solar Panel Winter Performance Actual Results

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Side by Side Bifacial Solar Panels and Conventional Solar Panels Winter Performance.
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Vertical Bifacial Solar Panel Performance Results Part 1: • Vertical Bifacial Sola...
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:44 Bifacial Roof Result
01:37 Bifacial Ground Mount Summer Result
01:56 Bifacial Theoretical Max
02:14 Bifacial Winter Result
03:33 California State Policy NEM 3.0
06:21 Bifacial Snow Shedding Performance
07:07 Bifacial 250% Improvement

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Опубликовано:

4 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 183

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Best place to purchase Bifacial Solar Panels: projectswithdave.com/solar-panels/ California State Policy NEM 3.0 Information: NEM 3.0: what does it mean for you: t.sidekickopen60.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0V1-gnj8dDTcYW39qybq2B9nMJN7t5XWPf2rmRN2zGJX-d0CtCW16gGF83Nsx19101?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW41RkQf1JylPtW49LlYL3zb1CvW3Fbt5S41RkwLW3_SP1B49M8XDW1G9VRH1Ld4CGW2fd0T14kCJp7F3H3c24PdkQ1&si=8000000022370865&pi=a1e716f6-023f-4c78-bd55-34cd5bc209a3

@davefroman4700 11 месяцев назад

I can see the white landscape rock being a good idea with a bifacial. Especially on cloudy days.

@NeverTakeNoShortcuts Год назад

Dave, Another great video, but that is NOT a blizzard!! I have a 20kwp array of bifacial panels and I have 6 feet of snow below my ground mount array. If you are really in snow country you need a 45 degree pitch to slough off snow. The tiny loss of power in summer is insignificant compared to winter days when you need it (as you say)

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Yes, I should have said it felt like a blizzard. The temperature was -40deg F with the wind chill. I grew up in Alaska, so I've seen my share of snow. And I agree, 45deg would be a better angle even for my location which doesn't see all that much snow. My winter production is my weak production time even without considering snow shedding.

@NeverTakeNoShortcuts Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave Wind chill doesn't count ;)

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

That's funny, that's what I always tell my wife! That's what they always report in the news in Ohio, makes it seem more exciting I guess.

@NeverTakeNoShortcuts Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave We married the same woman..

@tmathison66 9 месяцев назад

I somehow missed this when it was published months ago, but here it is. I posted a remaining question about self clearing of snow on bifacial panels on steep winter angles below your bifacial video from July 2022 and just got my answer. Thank you so much for following through.

@awbean5254 Год назад

DAVE, GREAT RESEARCH! WE APPRECIATE YOUR SOLAR PROJECTS AND RESEARCH!

@Jon-ie8kk Год назад

Ive been on YT since the beginning and rarely subscribe to anything, but this content is gold: I subscribed.

@michaelplates Год назад

Ok - you answer my question in another video - great info man.

@darkshadowsx5949 Год назад

thanks im definitely going to have to buy a pallet of bifacials when i do an array. the natural snow melting effect is well needed here.

@rickharold7884 Год назад

Man that’s super fascinating. Thx for testing

@clarencewiles963 Год назад

Thumbs up 👍 interesting everyone is looking for plug and play. Very good project. Thanks 😊

@Keepitsimple2 Год назад

You are doing VERY good work.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Thanks!

@MathysWalma Год назад

Great content, thanks for the work and inspiration to do it myself.

@pnowikow Год назад

Great video

@jc021286 Год назад

Thanks for the videos

@joshuatreepower 5 месяцев назад

Awesome analysis of BiFacial solar systems!

@ProjectsWithDave 5 месяцев назад

Thanks, I'm working on an analysis of vertically mounted bifacial panels now. It is going to be even more interesting.

@joshuatreepower 5 месяцев назад

Nice, look forward to seeing the vertical analysis. This is a video I did on BiFacial solar fencing vertical .. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yDIUzC4xqFI.html Bifacial Solar Fencing- Radical Transformation in Solar Energy Systems & Regenerative Agriculture

@patrickmckowen2999 5 месяцев назад

Excellent 👍

@banditdog1338 Год назад

Thanks to your previous videos I purchased bi-facial panels for my ground mount and while I have not load tested I am confident it was the right choice so keep that info coming thanks.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Glad to help

@RobertsMind Год назад

Love your content on solar man. I am planning out a solar install and am working on figuring out all the permitting and utilitiy contracting aspects of it at the moment. I am an electrical engineer so the system design part is easy but time consuming. You mentioning putting a pond behind the bi-directional panels gave me an idea of putting a small ground mount system by my koi pond. Thank you and keep up the great content.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I suspect, you will see some benefit from the reflection. I don't know how much exactly but I have talked to installers that will adjust estimated output when solar is installed near water do to an expected boost in production.

@Rifkinn 11 месяцев назад

I'm picturing SW and SE oriented sets of bifacial panels. The SW group can also get some morning sun on the back and the SE group getting evening sun on the back.

@robbehr8806 Год назад

Good video! I live in the Arizona desert and have a vertically mounted array pointed directly to the west. On overcast days, I get more productivity in the morning, due to diffusion of light in the clouds. So, I expected your results. Remember, a cloud layer will act as a light diffuser.

@Flowing23 Год назад

great information, thank you.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Glad it was helpful!

@shaunwilliams6649 5 месяцев назад

This is hugely helpful information Dave, and will definitely influence my choice of panel, it's location and how they are set up... Many of the comment are also helpful in this regard... I wouldn't have spaced my pannels for shedding, but this is obvious once pointed out... 👍

@ProjectsWithDave 5 месяцев назад

Glad it was helpful!

@arnoldreiter435 Год назад

Hello from a 5% viewer. I live in south central Montana and this winter had a issue with my system going over voltage. I have 250w used panels and when the temps dropped into the double digit negatives my system shut down due to going 1 volt over the inverters max. Only had this when it was 0 or colder and clear skies. My fault, i didnt work our the math on the panels to include the change in voltage as temps dropped. Simple fix disconnect one panel from the string. I always enjoy your experiments and have learned a lot, and it has saved me time and money in the past so thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Thanks for being one of the 5%! Thanks for your comment on temperature effects. Panels see their highest voltages in cold temperatures, and bifacial panels have an even greater delta in low temperatures.

@offgridwanabe Год назад

Good information when considering my next purchase.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Glad it was helpful!

@goldcountryruss7035 3 месяца назад

While rewatching this video I noticed at 3:28 (in winter snow) that the bifacial end of the array is shaded by those two trees. The low winter sun angle means you should top those trees 10-12' before next winter.

@goldcountryruss7035 Год назад

Adding reflective under the bifacials would be the first thing. Next, I would probably raise any fixed mount bifacial higher off the ground to allow more light in, especially from the front. Your test bifacials appear to be about 26" above the ground, it would be better if they started at a minimum of 42-48". You might consider mounting any future bifacials over a thin concrete slab and make sure you use white not gray Portland cement. Also, use a mounting system that doesn't have any supports directly under the panels rather using edge mounting between panels on the long side would be superior. Higher= more light & better cooling. It might be fun to test the bifacials in a vertical mount (like a fence) with the panel front facing east or west. Just decide whether you want the highest peak in morning or afternoon, either way no clipping! Expect amazing results with this one, especially in the snow. I am planning my new system and will be ordering 32ea. 400W bifacials in the next few days. It will be 2 arrays of 16 panels each with 1-axis auto-tracking and tool free tilt adjustment. Still undecided on inverter and tracking controls though. .

@davidmcknight5850 Год назад

I too am Dave in Ohio. Really enjoy your measurement at real world useage. I have a small shed with solar, so I am new to the system but it always produces even with snow, but not enough to recharge the batteries. Use this system to recharge my ryobi 40 volt batteries and a golf cart that pulls 20 amps during charging.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Nice! Be careful, once you start producing your own power it gets addicting. 😀

@Jenan_Tahnik Год назад

Thanks for the hard data... Pretty much confirmed what I had assumed would happen! Especially the Bi-Facial Panels shedding the snow much faster!

@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369 Год назад

HOWdy P-W-E-D-D, ... Thanks for the COMPARISON COOP the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA ...

@ChuckD59 Год назад

Great work, Dave. We're STILL planning our ground mount w/ batteries, but you may have converted me from the REC Pure Rs I had my eyes on. Thanks!

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Thanks! By the way, I'm not trying to "convert" anyone, just sharing what I learn as I go with my actual data. My goal is to give you data to process through the filter of your specific situation so you can make the best decision for you.

@sampleoffers1978 4 месяца назад

Thermal panels should light up uv diodes that can feed the bifacial panels. INDOOR bifacial panels are in newsfeeds this week. We need videos on them.

@VivekGangwar02 Год назад

subscribed! I'm your freind from diysolarforum who was asking weird questions on FLA batteries. very soon I'll be upgrading to 550*2 bifacial solar panels, and based on my location I need to decide their height and inclination. 550w + 30% as the brand claims, they are also half cut. Brand claims them to be 22% effecient cells.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Thanks!

@danielnicholls6868 Год назад

still think straight up [vertical] on there side and stagger back like a set of stairs. you should get a reflection from front of second or third row on to row in front of it. plus lets more light thru. yes on a shiny wall back 10 ft or more. plus space both sides of each row. less snow more reflection win win. bifacials at there best in cold snowy and cloudy days. keep up the good vids 👍👍 would still work good in late and early longer summer days with sun low NE and NW. shiny ground in front and under array to. and better wind flow around panels. maybe a vertical wall behind with regular panels

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I think there are a lot of unique solutions that could be achieved with bifacial panels, but racking systems have not caught up with the technology yet.

@royrunyon1286 Год назад

Suggestion: brush the snow off all the panels!

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I estimate the value of brushing off the snow in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vY3PufzPUnI.html Unless you live off grid and need the power, it's not worth the time. If you live where there is a lot of snow, you should have your panels at a much steeper angle so it sheds on its own.

@SolarizeYourLife Год назад

Awesome reporting!!! They didn't have biface panels when I was buying solar.... I guess I just have to buy another array....

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Sounds like enough justification to me! 😀

@jameslawrence9865 Год назад

The cheapest way I could see to improve output at night would be to install lights at your panels that stay on through the overnight, especially with a good reflective underlayment. Solar powered lights that would be charged during the day would give back approximately 15% of the energy released and allow you to have lights on the panels for service during the night.

@barnz008 Год назад

I have Qcells bifacials just sitting on the ground in the snow waiting for spring to be mounted. They really do hate the snow and kick ass on sunny days with lots of reflected energy. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t buy more when I had the chance.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I wouldn't stress about it. I'm sure there will be opportunity for something new and exciting to expand with in the future.

@Storam3 3 месяца назад

Space out the bi facial panels. Like 1 foot all around to catch reflected sun from behind. Then test 2 foot or more. Single sided panels didn't need spacing that's why they are mounted really tight together.

@emmanuelleduc7859 4 месяца назад

So much wind. 😊 That is also energy...

@ProjectsWithDave 4 месяца назад

Just more expensive to capture....

@emmanuelleduc7859 4 месяца назад

But if you have so much... its a waste if you have the space and velocity... still expensive is a deterrent. Thanks for the reply @@ProjectsWithDave

@rv10flyer84 Год назад

My three arrays totaling 34kWp are at 45, 55 (facing SW after watching your prior video😊), 65 degrees. The two steepest are QC 475W G10’s. The steeper arrays shed snow quicker or at 66 don’t even collect it to begin with.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Great 👍

@GoughCustom Год назад

Nice! I've been thinking about replicating this somewhat using cheap used panels by putting panels on the north facing side of my roof.... On clear sunny days those panels won't see much benefit, but on cloudy days suddenly I would have double the panel area to soak up the diffuse light from the clouds. This would only be worthwhile if I get another very good deal on panels though. Last time I bought 110x 230W panels for $55 each. I would happily put the same panels on my north facing roofs if I got a similar deal.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Cheap panels give you lots of flexibility you didn't have in the past. If you are looking for more production in low light situations, and the only place you have to put them is on the north side, then this might be your only option. However, don't expect them to produce very much.

@GoughCustom Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave for sure, I'm not expecting too much if I go that route, just some help with potential shortfalls on cloudy days. I have a small machine shop full of CNC machines so going solar will be my approach to getting 3 phase power, as that is not available locally. I bought 24kw of used panels to go on the south facing roofs, it will be interesting to see how it works out! I'll be using the grid as a 'charger' as well, but prioritizing solar input, and using both to keep approx 20kw/h of batteries topped up so they can be used in case of outages. We get lots of power flickers and outages here, which is not a good environment to be trying to run CNC machines! I'm looking forward to getting the system online.

@icecreamtruckog3667 2 месяца назад

One tip. It is better to shorten cables for energy efficiency than to roll them into a circle. The rolled up cable works like an inductor and hinders the transfer of AC power. It is also better just to make them go back and forth than in a circle if that is an option.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 месяца назад

These cables are carrying DC power not AC. I did an analysis on the loops with my son, you can watch it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-i7vHEHB3a-M.html

@hekamteam 9 месяцев назад

friend made little lake oround solar panels water helps reflect

@pschlump Год назад

With bifacial panels and snow I have gotten better results at a steeper angle because they shed snow faster and the back side can get more light at a steeper angle.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Yes, if you are in a climate with a lot of snow I would recommend an even steeper than mine, which is at 30deg.

@NeverTakeNoShortcuts Год назад

Dave: you should do a video on dump load energy storage. There are a few US companies distributing storage heaters (popular in Europe), but I think they have applicability in the US for solar dump load devices on those days when your batteries are full and the sun is shinning ..

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

That's a good idea, I'll keep it in mind. Thanks.

@RiggerBrew Год назад

Thanks for the breakdown in real-world use. Ive seen a few builds where they use bifacials for carports and Pergolas. Any chance you will build one of those and show real tests for these use cases?

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I've considered it... but, it will be a while before I get to a project like that.

@TheGoodguy68 7 месяцев назад

That would be my summer angle. With my adjustable mount I'm almost vertical for winter solar collection.

@ProjectsWithDave 7 месяцев назад

Do you have bifacial panels? What latitude are you at? What winter angle gives you the best output? Thanks!

@edwinfrinking4058 7 месяцев назад

So switch your panels from your shed to your ground array if they make no difference with the standerds being up there. Consider using a litle bit of energy from the bifacials to heat the standerds

@arnecarlsson9740 Год назад

👏👏👏!

@joewamsley8004 11 месяцев назад

You should tack some house wrap behind the array to see if that helps. You have a black background, might affect?

@WizzRacing Год назад

Bifacial Panels shine the cooler it is.. As they hate heat...I spray water on them in the Texas Summer time to cool them off. Then they put out more then the rated power using Renogy 220 watts. I have no idea how others perform...

@erroba 9 месяцев назад

Have you tried installing the PV modules in a horizontal position? The diodes in the PV module will allow the production of energy even if the module is covered on the bottom side.

@ProjectsWithDave 9 месяцев назад

The new bifacial panels are half cut giving the same effect, but that's a good idea for standard panels.

@thetinkercook5430 5 месяцев назад

Mica rock

@RandomActsOfMadness Год назад

Would be really interesting to see vertically mounted, east-west-facing bifacials. Snow shedding solved, and cheaper mounting hardware..

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Where have you found cheap vertical mounting racks?

@johnroger2654 Год назад

👍👍👍👍

@thoughtfulthreadsAI 10 месяцев назад

Bifacials offer lots of options, vertical is one that we'll be trying.

@ProjectsWithDave 10 месяцев назад

I plan to do some testing on vertical solutions. Sounds promising.

@LarryDickman1 11 месяцев назад

I might be late to the party but if you had a steeper winter angle you would have better results. Also less snow collecting or staying on the panels.

@ProjectsWithDave 11 месяцев назад

Yes, If I lived in an area with more snow I would use a much steeper angle.

@jakejoeep23 Год назад

Thanks Dave. This is very helpful. I have bifacial panels in west Michigan and I have to say I'm disappointed that they don't do better on most cloudy days. I keep wondering if my design is not optimal. I still have more research to do. But it's good to know that your data says I made the right decision to go with bifacial panels.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Cloudy days just don't produce very much power. If you had conventional panels, you would be even more disappointed. You made the right choice in panels if it's a ground mount.

@jakejoeep23 Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave Thanks Dave, I was trying to compare my solar output with yours as I wonder if I did something wrong with my set up. On my cloudy days I only get about 800w from my 9200w array which is a ground mount with all 460w Blue Sun bifacials. That is not even close to the 2000w the video shows that your array is producing in that snow storm. Could the difference in latitude make that much difference? Yes, there are cloudy days and there are CLOUDY days but I am judging based on what your snowy cold video shows. I also have to say that I'm not sure about my sunny day output where the most I have seen in 8000w with the panel angle set to perpendicular to the sun and that day was very cold. I have only been running since October. So I do wonder how they will do in the summer considering solar gain versus panel efficiency losses due to temperature. I am considering some kind of reflective surface behind the panels for next winter. Also, I put gaps between the panels in my array to increase the amount of light getting behind the panels.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Moment by moment production is not as reliable as long term data. Compare the output of your system over a a period of months against the predicted output by a calculator like PVWatts ( pvwatts.nrel.gov/ ). This will give you a better idea of how close you are to your systems true capability. Cloudy days can vary significantly in intensity. My cloudy day output can vary from 8kWh for the day to 23kWh. Density of the clouds makes a significant difference. Also keep in mind the online calculator is an average for a period of many years. My monthly output varies significantly from year to year as well. My lowest output for the month of January was 0.46Mwh and my best year for January was 0.819Mwh. It's very weather dependent.

@davidb.5544 Год назад

@@jakejoeep23 Are you getting more than 9200W on a sunny day?

@jakejoeep23 Год назад

@@davidb.5544 Not so far. Just 8000w on the best totally sunny cold winter day.

@franklong6269 Год назад

Great review! I am no expert with bifacial panels, but I have seen some solar panel designs install the panels at a 90 (vertical) angle. This would minimize the shading of the snow by the panels and maximize the amount of sun to both sides of the bifacial panels. It would also allow the panels to shed snow more efficiently. To be clear, part of the reason for the vertical mounting was to allow easy access between the panels for agriculture farming. So the vertical mounting may not be the most efficient orientation for bifacial panels, but it would be very interesting to see if it produced more power in both summer and winter seasons. Just a thought.

@r.b.l.5841 Год назад

At 49-degrees North Lat, my bifacials are angled 72(from horizontal) during Nov-Jan, then 60-degrees until end of April then 30-degrees unit end of October. This gives me the best total over the year, and yes during those summer months when the sun rises in the NE and sets in the NW there is a lot of collection from the back of the panels, similarly during winter months reflection off of white snow onto the back of panels is 10-15 % of the collected energy of those months.

@franklong6269 Год назад

@@r.b.l.5841 Interesting. You have done some serious homework. It is easy enough to figure out the best panel angle for single side solar panels, but bifacial panels appear to be a challenge. It appears that you made your rack assembly adjustable, so that you can change the panel angles for various seasons. That suggests you have a ground mounted system. Thanks for posting this information. I live in sunny AZ in the Phoenix metro area (in Peoria AZ) and I am going to install solar panels on my roof. I considered bifacial, but the added complexity of installing the panels at an angle on the roof is just not worth the trouble. This is especially true because newer panels have increased in to over 500 watts per panel. So I can install a 10 KW system with just 20 panels.. I think that using a Sol-Ark 15K hybrid inverter will allow me to capture most of the 10 KW output of the array and send it back to the grid, store it in a battery system and use it to power my house. Here in AZ, I would get enough power with a 10 KW array to power my house a week in just one day during the summer and still send power back to the grid. In the winter, it will still take approximately 1 - 1.25 days (theoretically) to generate enough power to power my house for a week. So essentially, I will not have an power bill at all. AZ pays approximately eighty percent back (of what I pay the utility company) in net metering, which is a pretty good deal. Your system sounds impressive. It would be interesting to see it.

@r.b.l.5841 Год назад

@@franklong6269 I would not recommend bifacials for your set up, standard PV mounted parallel to your roof surface on fixed racking is much simpler to do, and if your roof slope is close to the same angle as your latitude north of the equator your golden. likely very little snow in Pheniox AZ too! (part of the reason my angle is steep is snow)

@franklong6269 Год назад

@@r.b.l.5841 Yes you are correct - 100%. You came to the same conclusion that I did. It just isn't worth the trouble to mess with bifacial panels in my situation. I would have problems permitting the rack bracing system if the panels were angled. And yes, here in the Phoenix metro area, it barely snows once every 30 years or so. So far this winter, the temperatures around my house have not reached freezing - though they have come close a couple of times. Thank you for sharing your hard-earned information.

@lunatik9696 Год назад

put shiny aluminum sheets behind the panel to reflect the most light.

@MarkRose1337 Год назад

Cloudy day performance is more important for off-grid systems that are drawing down batteries. Sunny days are more likely to top the batteries off.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Exactly!

@jrhenry830 Год назад

What about mounting a mirror underneath the panels?

@mosfet500 7 месяцев назад

Thanks for the interesting video. I'm still experimenting with bifacial modules but I have two rows of modules so I'm wondering if I can tilt the back row to reflect light to the rear of the front row. I'll try it and see what happens!

@ProjectsWithDave 7 месяцев назад

Let me know if you see any benefit from that.

@kitsurubami Год назад

What is the price difference between the normal panels and bifacial? You have established here that bifacial are better in some applications, but even a rough price comparison is needed. Great video as always, looking forward to the next one.

@davidb.5544 Год назад

Totally depends on where you buy it from, brand, size, etc. I've seen certain bifacials a lot cheaper than mono facial panels.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I got my bifacial panels for less than the cost of conventional panels through a clearance sale at SanTan solar. I have a few good sources with great pricing on my website under solar panels. Here's a link: projectswithdave.com/solar-panels/ You can can pay a slight premium and still come out ahead. I discuss the calculation in this video on bifacial panels: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1SXNjsSsmq0.html

@jkpower345 8 дней назад

What an AWESOME CHANNEL! Thank you Dave for doing this. I am looking to jump into solar at my property. Im rural like you. I want to do a 2 axis tracking system, do you have any input? Im in Wisconsin so this video was very helpful on Bifacial output and snow clearing value. Thank you

@ProjectsWithDave 7 дней назад

Thanks! My input at this time is that tracking systems are not likely to pay for themselves and I would only use one if I had limited space. If you want more power it would be cheaper to just add more panels.

@tarasian666 Год назад

And how they perform in rainy cloudy winter?)

@ngana8755 3 месяца назад

Could you use a space blanket behind the bi-facial solar panels to reflect more light? Or aluminum foil?

@kmaya19 Год назад

How about a vertical mounted test with bi-facial panels. I would love to see the results as I have a possible application for this but I’m unsure if it is worth it.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I've had that request more than once. I'll have to investigate it when I have some time.

@bruceeverett5372 Год назад

As always, your videos are thoughtful, helpful and logical. I live in Northern Indiana, so I think many things apply also here. This is my year for investing into solar. BTW what is the angle of your ground array? Where there even steeper angles available in Ready Rack?

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

It's 30deg. That was the steepest angle they had when I installed it. I'm expanding my array right now and I found it's not hard to "cheat" it a few more degrees. Of course, that will affect the wind loading calculations slightly.

@banditdog1338 Год назад

Sinclair Designs ground mounts offer a seasonal adjust option you might want to check that out.

@ProjectsWithDave 9 месяцев назад

I'm familiar with that system, it's a good option. I link to it on my components page at the bottom: projectswithdave.com/components/

@franscubitt1 Год назад

Thanks this is very interesting but what nobody says is in a off grid setup when your battery is full it doesn’t matter what panels u have as you can’t use the power. Does it then pay to fit biracials? Here in S Africa there is about a 15% difference in price between mono and Bifacial panels.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

The big advantage to bifacial panels it the increased performance in low light conditions when you need the boost. On cloudy and foggy days you will get significantly more production from bifacial panels.

@JustinsProject Год назад

Dave, you are doing some great work here. Very good data. I am working on compiling solar data as well. I have an Enphase system that I installed myself and I am looking at possibly building another array inground for testing all sorts of combos. Just curious about what state you are in? Ohio? Keep up the awesome work!

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Thanks! Yes, I’m in Ohio. Enphase is a nice product, but every time I look at it, I end up using something else because the cost is so high.

@JustinsProject Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave I moved from Central Ohio to Central KY last year. What software are you using to gather per panel data? It looks similar to my Enlighten App used on my microinverters.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I use SolarEdge for my main array and NEP's system for the shed.

@markwalton9540 5 месяцев назад

Love your videos. Where do u recommend getting ground mount racking system and I ve seen Santan site. But what do you suggest now 2024. For panels and where to get. I’m leaning toward biracial. Also I’m located in Southern Maine(Portland)

@ProjectsWithDave 5 месяцев назад

Thanks! Here are some good sources for bifacial panels: projectswithdave.com/solar-panels/ For residential home size arrays, there are two ground mount systems I recommend, you can find them at the bottom of my components page here: projectswithdave.com/components/

@arveskjellanger4121 9 месяцев назад

Did you test a West oriented panel? Would get more light from the backside and produce from early morning, with a max in the afternoon.

@ProjectsWithDave 9 месяцев назад

I plan to do some further testing with bifacial panels in various orientations in the future.

@r.b.l.5841 10 месяцев назад

When the sun is actually behind the bifacial panels they really stand out compared to regular panels.

@ProjectsWithDave 10 месяцев назад

Yes, I think they actually look much better. In my case I see the back side of the array from my house, the bifacial panels are a much better look.

@nicolaiecristea486 4 месяца назад

The problem is that mirors should be 5 times bigger than bifacial panel!

@terifunk3861 Год назад

have you tried to put a reflective material under the solar panels like aluminum foil?

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Not yet.

@Derf2258 11 месяцев назад

How do you get info on each individual panel in your system? IE. watts, etc.

@ProjectsWithDave 11 месяцев назад

I have two methods for gathering data. One is using individual optimizers on each panel with my Solar Edge system. The other is using dedicated oversized microinverters from NEP. I then record solar irradiance data independently with a Fluke solar irradiance meter.

@HungryTradie Год назад

G'day Dave, does your 150% theoretical maximum fail to account for heating of the back of the panel? Maybe 100% + 50% doesn't equal 150% ? It must be really nice to have good sun on a cold day, Aussies don't get many of those!

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

You can see how I came up with those theoretical numbers in more detail in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1SXNjsSsmq0.html

@davidb.5544 Год назад

The snowy test didn't seem quite fair since it didn't look completely snow covered (100% albedo) and there was no snow under the lower row bifacial. Many areas would have the ground even under that lower area completely snow covered from blowing snow which would have helped the lower bifacial panel out. Would also help if you mentioned the angle the array is at and your latitude since that would also directly affect the output.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Unfortunately, we don't often have the combination of snow and sun where I live. So, I have to work with what I get. Hopefully, it is at least relevant data you can use to extrapolate to your situation. If I get a better snowfall next year, I can gather more data.

@TheGuruStud Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave Your results would be dramatically different. Deep snow with full sun is blinding. It didn't look bright at all in your clip. The sun was penetrating through the snow, plus all of the exposed grass (and obviously gravel).

@CobraR99 9 месяцев назад

The snow shedding is inaccurate if you look the other end shedded snow as well and there standard pannels I think it has to do with the fact that they are on the end and not cause there bifacials

@ProjectsWithDave 9 месяцев назад

Maybe you can't tell in the picture, but only the very top of the panels are clearing all the way across. The other end is not clear like the bifacial panels. There is a significant difference in snow clearing between the two styles of panels.

@Vxvx22 6 месяцев назад

What is the tilt angle of your solar array, Is it 35 or 40 or 45 degree? What do u think is the minimum tilt angle required to Not have snow stick to the panels, is 30 degree enough? I am thinking of building my solar array, Thanks! I think another thing you can do to maximize the bi-facial solar generation is to put like a 1 foot air gap between each solar panel column. So the sun light can go to the back side of panel easier. You seems to have unlimited space in your "backyard". So you can easily build another rack of array to have all the solar panel spaced out 1 foot.

@ProjectsWithDave 6 месяцев назад

My system is at 31 deg. If you can get your panels to 60 deg in the winter, you shouldn't have too much trouble with snow sticking. Make sure you have enough clearance under the panels to shed the snow.

@Vxvx22 6 месяцев назад

@@ProjectsWithDaveoh, it is only 31 degree. I thought it is higher. Thanks for the info

@fjwagnerdds Год назад

how would a 1 foot space between the panels affect performance, ie letting some light get through to the back of the panels.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

It would improve performance, but it would complicate the racking.

@user-wj1jv6mu6t 3 месяца назад

Whats the result in hot summer day bifacial vs conventional

@ProjectsWithDave 3 месяца назад

I plan to collect some of that data this summer.

@usp211816 Год назад

has anyone sugested the obvious, mount the pannel vertically ?

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Yes. I plan to test that once I get some time in my schedule.

@petercullati39 8 месяцев назад

Is the optimum angle for a bifacial the same as a conventional panel?

@ProjectsWithDave 8 месяцев назад

Theoretically it would be the same. However, I've seen data to show some benefits from installing them vertical. I am working on a test setup that places them vertical. I'll post the results when I have actual data to present.

@robertfordham4008 Год назад

Have you tried a biracial panel mounted vertically to collect both east and west light?

@davidb.5544 Год назад

There would be extreme wind load on that configuration.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

There have been a lot of requests for this and I have been thinking about how to mange the wind loading. I don't know of a racking system to accommodate it, so I would have to make something for the experiment. It would need significant bracing to be sure.

@hassansyed5661 8 месяцев назад

What will be the result if I install Bificial panels on L2 stand?

@ProjectsWithDave 8 месяцев назад

Ground arrays have the best performance for bifacial panels. From what I've seen, the higher they are off the ground, the better they perform.

@vedranart Год назад

Hi, I have a roof flat roof which is mainly oriented to the south-east. It is around 26m2 in dimension. I was thinking of installing some of the bifacial solar panels on it. But to mount it totally vertically like [ I I I I I ] with microinverters. What are your thoughts on that? Tnx!

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I would not mount them vertical. It would be very hard to manage structurally. If the roof is white and you mount them at a steep angle with standard racking, you will save cost and probably get better performance.

@vedranart Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave thanks! 😊

@jerkychew899 Год назад

I know you've heavily detailed your build process, but I guess I didn't realize how far your array was from civilization. Does one of your videos have details on distance and setup? I ask because the best options for arrays for me are fairly far from my house, and I have yet to research how such things would be wired up. It would be helpful to hear what you're doing.

@SolarizeYourLife Год назад

It all has to do with shading... You can get a computer program to analyze shades...winter house shade, and near by tree shade throughout the year...

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Yes, this install video has most of the detail: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_xA6qOwnYbM.html

@PhoenixYang275 Год назад

Hello, friend! This is Phoenix from Amerisolar. Trusted Global Solar Module Manufacturer Seeks Cooperation

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

You can find my business contact information on the "About" page of my RU-vid channel.

@The-JMartian Год назад

I don't think so, the snow on my panels slide down the same way actually the ones I painted the back with a dark brown latex color the snow melts 200% better

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Painting the back side would certainly help in the winter. However, in the summer it will also increase the temperature. That will significantly reduce their output.

@dewholdingsllc1050 Год назад

Maybe time for a wind generator?

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I haven't found one that makes sense to install. Feel free to make suggestions.

@dewholdingsllc1050 Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave I’m only asking to see if you tested any out and because you video on an extreme wind day and you had overcast weather and ice covered panels. I’m planning on a system that will be located on the Mesa and I hear it can get windy there and it is in snow country at 6944Ft elevation.

@makesaveinccomm 5 месяцев назад

Why u put too far from home????? 😅😅😅😅😅

@Americaonline0 Месяц назад

this video is like 1/2 commercials

@DarylRaverty 5 месяцев назад

Ha, 😂 in Australia 🌏🦘 we get about 5-6 kW per day per kW. Much more that your system. My home is grid connected to export what I don't use. And just in case. Tesla batteries make a huge difference too. I am looking to upgrade to 20 kW of bifacial Trina S+ on my North facing roof. I have two different types now and want then all looking the same. 30 years will see me out i think. 😊😊😊

@ProjectsWithDave 5 месяцев назад

Nice! It's much easier to justify solar in Australia.