pv magazine test

The first chart to the right shows the meteo station data (irradiance and ambient temperature) for October 2020. A new mono PERC, monofacial module from JA Solar (JAM60S10-345/MR) was added to the outdoor test array at the beginning of October. After operating for approximately a full month, its energy yield performance was added to this month’s results.

Beginning this month, the energy yield comparison between technologies, including bifacial boost, will be analyzed using products installed after the beginning of 2019. This is to eliminate the influence of the performance degradation from the older modules on the results. Using this new approach, the average bifacial boost is 6.0% for October 2020. Bifacial boost is defined as the extra energy yield of the bifacial products compared to the average energy yield of all mono-facial mono PERC products.

The chart to the bottom right shows the comparison between different PV module technologies for October 2020. Cast mono PERC is categorized as a “standard multi” product for this comparison. Bifacial modules are steadily performing above all the other technologies, with multi-crystalline silicon PV having the lowest yield.

Notes on the energy yield measurements:

• The energy yield is given in Wh/Wp and calculated by dividing the energy produced by the module by the Pmax at STC of the module. This Pmax is the maximum STC power after a process of stabilization.
• The results are grouped in categories, per module type.
• The bifacial boost depends on many parameters: the bifaciality factor, the installation geometry, the albedo of the ground, and the sun angle and diffuse irradiance. The ground, in this case, is gray gravel.

George Touloupas