Impact of Illumination Conditions on the Electrical Parameters of Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules

Abstract

This study presents an experimental evaluation of the photoelectric performance of bifacial photovoltaic modules based on monocrystalline silicon Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) technology under different illumination conditions. The investigation focuses on variations in key electrical parameters when the modules are exposed to front-side, rear-side, and simultaneous bifacial illumination. A dedicated experimental setup was developed to obtain accurate current–voltage (I–V) and power–voltage (P–V) characteristics under controlled lighting conditions that closely represent real operating environments. The experimental results reveal a significant enhancement in module performance under bifacial illumination. In particular, the output power increased by approximately 22% compared to front-side illumination alone and by 41% relative to rear-side illumination. Additionally, the influence of reflective (high-albedo) surfaces on power generation was examined, demonstrating that bifacial modules installed in such environments can deliver more than 22% higher power output than conventional monofacial modules. These findings confirm the effectiveness of bifacial illumination in improving energy conversion efficiency and overall power yield. The results provide practical insights for optimizing the deployment of bifacial PERC-based photovoltaic modules in energy-efficient solar power systems, especially in applications where reflective surroundings can be utilized to maximize energy generation.