pv magazine test: February 2023 results

The main image (above) shows the meteo station data (irradiance and ambient temperature) for February 2023.

The average bifacial boost is 7.60% for February 2023. Bifacial boost is defined as the relative advantage of the average specific energy yield of all bifacial products compared to the average specific energy yield of all monofacial mono PERC (passivated emitter, rear contact) products.

The chart below shows the relative specific energy yield comparison between different PV module technologies. Although the top performer is Longi’s bifacial PERC module, the average specific energy yield of the bifacial TOPCon (tunnel-oxide passivated contact) category leads over the average specific energy yield of modules in the bifacial PERC category.

Our test field only has one sample from Jolywood in the negatively-doped, n-TOPCon bifacial category. As TOPCon modules become more prominent, we look forward to installing more samples of this type to achieve a more representative yield comparison.

Energy yield measurements

• The energy yield comparison among various technologies, including bifacial boost, will be analyzed using products installed after the beginning of 2019.
• The energy yield is given in Wh/Wp and calculated by dividing the energy produced by the module by the Pmax (maximum power point) at STC (standard test conditions) 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.

Bifacial boost

Specific energy yield ranking – historical