Page 19 - North American Clean Energy March/April 2019 Issue

Alexandre G-Vanasse is VP Business Development for Opsun. The company began as a high-tech research laboratory focusing on next-generation solar technologies. Opsun designs and manufactures mounting systems for PV installations for both roof top and ground mount.
Opsun /// opsun.com
1All above numbers are based on simulations run on PVSYST 6.77, using all the same parameters and N-Type bifacial panels with 75% bifaciality factor (front side/back side).
shadow behind the panel, causing less irradiated cells to act as a resistance to more illuminated cells, and creating hot spots. Also, any wind de ector and ballast blocks will prevent important rays of light from reaching the bifacial panels. To avoid this, use rail-based systems with rails outside the perimeter of the panels, no wind de ectors, and anchored, where roof penetration is a possibility.
15D HP Vs 10D
Increasing the tilt from 10 degrees
to 15 degrees will yield an extra 2.4 percent of energy, according to PYSYST 6.77. Bumping up to 20 degrees will
add another 2 percent, approximately. Traditionally, moving to a 15- or 20-degree tilt meant increasing the interrow distance (where fewer modules will t on the same roof ), and reducing the total power of the system by 10-15 percent, depending on racking interrow distance. In light of this, few designers adopted the higher tilt approach, instead loading as many panels as they could t
at 5 or 10 degrees. However, switching to bifacial PVs at 10 degrees can quickly yield a 13-14 percent gain on an 80 percent re ective membrane. Further increasing the tilt and height of the system, to 15 degrees tilt and 16 inches, can produce another 2.5 percent (from the front side) and 1.5 percent (from the height), for a total of up to 18 percent increased yield per panel. is changes the pro tability
of the entire system.
It’s possible to yield up to 23 percent more energy per panel by going to 20 degrees, (compared to the same non- bifacial panel at 10 degrees), further o setting the downside of a smaller system, in power, while also reducing the total absolute cost of the system1. is means that a lower (absolute) cost system with a smaller nameplate capacity (W), at 15 degrees tilt and 16+ inches height, can generate more kilowatt-hours at the end of the year with bifacial PVs, as compared to standard PVs at 10 degrees. And, although a 20-degree tilt system will produce less kilowatt-hours, there will be much more pro table production from each panel.
Regions with snow bene t even more, since light reaching the backside of the panel will heat-up the front side and
melt snow faster than with standard, non-bifacial panels. While there is still room for more literature quantifying such gain, it can be seen as an added, free 1-2 percent or more of additional energy.
With the arrival of low-priced bifacial PV panels, solar developers should take the time to study where these panels become more pro table than using standard monofacial modules. When there is ample space on a roof for a project, a white re ective roof already is in place, or where there is snow, bifacial PVs o er an opportunity to yield more kWh with fewer panels, and an overall lower
cost system (or a slightly more expensive system with the same quantity of panels, but producing a higher return on investment). Increased pro tability may vary depending on other project-speci c factors, but the potential for greater pro ts and energy production makes it worth taking a second look at bifacials.
3,300 lbf. tensile strength 2,500 lbf. shear strength 2,000 lbf. compressive strength
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* OMG strongly recommends contacting the roof system manufacturer prior to installing PowerGrip units for acceptance, application and warranty information.
Superior productivity. Superior performance.
800.633.3800
www.OMGRoo ng.com OMG PowerGripTM is a trademark of OMG, Inc. Copyright © 2019 OMG, Inc. All rights reserved. 19 North American Clean Energy