Simulation models for energy yield prediction of bifacial systems

In this chapter, an optical, electrical and thermal model have been presented as the basic elements of a simulation model for the energy yield prediction of bifacial models and systems. Keeping in mind that for each of these models, several different concepts are viable and are under investigation by various research groups around the world, the model as published in [8] has been presented as an example. Thereby, an optical model for the rear side irradiance of bifacial PV modules, both stand-alone as well as in-field installed, has been established and after its implementation as a software tool, simulations of the energy yield for different scenarios have been conducted. Given appropriate weather data, simulations can be carried out for various locations. In combination with an electrical model, such tools allow for the estimation of the bifacial gain, i.e. the additional yield compared to a standard PV module, for various installation parameters, such as the tilt angle, installation height, distance between module rows and constant ground albedo coefficient.