IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i17p7428-d1465893.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exergy and Energy Analysis of Bifacial PV Module Performance on a Cloudy Day in Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • A. F. Almarshoud

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia)

  • M. A. Abdel-halim

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia)

  • Radwan A. Almasri

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ahmed M. Alshwairekh

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Bifacial solar modules, capable of harvesting sunlight from both sides, present a promising pathway for sustainable energy generation. This study examines the performance of bifacial modules on a cloudy day through comparative exergy and energy analyses. The analysis considers both the quality and quantity of energy produced by bifacial and monofacial modules. Conducted at Qassim University in Buraydah City, Saudi Arabia, the study recorded measurements during two intervals on a cloudy day using a real-time photovoltaic measurement system. Module performance was evaluated concerning energy yield, exergy yield, and solar irradiance, factoring in ambient and module temperatures. The results demonstrate that bifacial modules outperformed monofacial modules in electrical energy and output exergy. In the first period, the bifacial modules showed a 9.5% higher exergy efficiency and a 7% greater energy efficiency compared to the monofacial modules. During the second period, the bifacial modules achieved a 4.5% higher exergy efficiency and a 3.5% increased energy efficiency over the monofacial modules. These findings contribute to global sustainability efforts by reducing fossil fuel dependence and optimizing bifacial PV module design and operation for enhanced energy and exergy efficiency, even in cloudy conditions. The study’s implications for sustainable development and energy policies underscore the essential role of advanced PV technologies in achieving sustainable energy goals.

Suggested Citation

  • A. F. Almarshoud & M. A. Abdel-halim & Radwan A. Almasri & Ahmed M. Alshwairekh, 2024. "Exergy and Energy Analysis of Bifacial PV Module Performance on a Cloudy Day in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-13, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7428-:d:1465893
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/17/7428/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/17/7428/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sun, Xingshu & Khan, Mohammad Ryyan & Deline, Chris & Alam, Muhammad Ashraful, 2018. "Optimization and performance of bifacial solar modules: A global perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1601-1610.
    2. Amir A. Abdallah & Maulid Kivambe & Brahim Aïssa & Benjamin W. Figgis, 2023. "Performance of Monofacial and Bifacial Silicon Heterojunction Modules under Desert Conditions and the Impact of PV Soiling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Seungmin Lee & Euichan Lee & Junghun Lee & Seongjun Park & Wonsik Moon, 2024. "Strategy for Enhancing Hosting Capacity of Distribution Lines Using a Vertical Photovoltaic System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Katsaounis, Th. & Kotsovos, K. & Gereige, I. & Basaheeh, A. & Abdullah, M. & Khayat, A. & Al-Habshi, E. & Al-Saggaf, A. & Tzavaras, A.E., 2019. "Performance assessment of bifacial c-Si PV modules through device simulations and outdoor measurements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1285-1298.
    3. Zimmerman, Ryan & Panda, Anurag & Bulović, Vladimir, 2020. "Techno-economic assessment and deployment strategies for vertically-mounted photovoltaic panels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    4. Johnson, Joji & Manikandan, S., 2023. "Experimental study and model development of bifacial photovoltaic power plants for Indian climatic zones," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    5. Tao, Yunkun & Bai, Jianbo & Pachauri, Rupendra Kumar & Wang, Yue & Li, Jian & Attaher, Harouna Kerzika, 2021. "Parameterizing mismatch loss in bifacial photovoltaic modules with global deployment: A comprehensive study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    6. Jouttijärvi, Sami & Lobaccaro, Gabriele & Kamppinen, Aleksi & Miettunen, Kati, 2022. "Benefits of bifacial solar cells combined with low voltage power grids at high latitudes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Manfredi Picciotto Maniscalco & Sonia Longo & Gabriele Miccichè & Maurizio Cellura & Marco Ferraro, 2023. "A Critical Review of the Environmental Performance of Bifacial Photovoltaic Panels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Wang Lai Wang & Marek Kryszak, 2020. "Technological Progress and Supply Base under Uncertain Market Conditions: The Case Study of the Taiwanese c-Si Solar Industry 2016–2019," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, November.
    9. Ganesan, K. & Winston, D. Prince & Nesamalar, J. Jeslin Drusila & Pravin, M., 2024. "Output power enhancement of a bifacial solar photovoltaic with upside down installation during module defects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    10. Patel, M. Tahir & Asadpour, Reza & Bin Jahangir, Jabir & Ryyan Khan, M. & Alam, Muhammad A., 2023. "Current-matching erases the anticipated performance gain of next-generation two-terminal Perovskite-Si tandem solar farms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    11. Zhang, Wei & Zhao, Oufan & Xie, Lingzhi & Li, Zihao & Wu, Xin & Zhong, Jianmei & Zeng, Xiding & Zou, Ruiwen, 2023. "Factors influence analysis and life cycle assessment of innovative bifacial photovoltaic applied on building facade," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    12. Gu, Wenbo & Li, Senji & Liu, Xing & Chen, Zhenwu & Zhang, Xiaochun & Ma, Tao, 2021. "Experimental investigation of the bifacial photovoltaic module under real conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 1111-1122.
    13. Preeti Kumari Sahu & J. N. Roy & Chandan Chakraborty & Senthilarasu Sundaram, 2021. "A New Model for Estimation of Energy Extraction from Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.
    14. Osama Ayadi & Bilal Rinchi & Sameer Al-Dahidi & Mohammed E. B. Abdalla & Mohammed Al-Mahmodi, 2024. "Techno-Economic Assessment of Bifacial Photovoltaic Systems under Desert Climatic Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-19, August.
    15. Patel, M. Tahir & Ahmed, M. Sojib & Imran, Hassan & Butt, Nauman Z. & Khan, M. Ryyan & Alam, Muhammad A., 2021. "Global analysis of next-generation utility-scale PV: Tracking bifacial solar farms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    16. Agata Zdyb & Dariusz Sobczyński, 2024. "An Assessment of a Photovoltaic System’s Performance Based on the Measurements of Electric Parameters under Changing External Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-22, May.
    17. Kim, James Hyungkwan & Mills, Andrew D. & Wiser, Ryan & Bolinger, Mark & Gorman, Will & Crespo Montañes, Cristina & O'Shaughnessy, Eric, 2021. "Project developer options to enhance the value of solar electricity as solar and storage penetrations increase," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    18. Ewe, Win Eng & Fudholi, Ahmad & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman & Moshery, Refat & Asim, Nilofar & Nuriana, Wahidin & Ibrahim, Adnan, 2022. "Thermo-electro-hydraulic analysis of jet impingement bifacial photovoltaic thermal (JIBPVT) solar air collector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    19. Mouhib, Elmehdi & Fernández-Solas, Álvaro & Pérez-Higueras, Pedro J. & Fernández-Ocaña, Ana M. & Micheli, Leonardo & Almonacid, Florencia & Fernández, Eduardo F., 2024. "Enhancing land use: Integrating bifacial PV and olive trees in agrivoltaic systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    20. Hyeonwook Park & Sungho Chang & Sanghwan Park & Woo Kyoung Kim, 2019. "Outdoor Performance Test of Bifacial n-Type Silicon Photovoltaic Modules," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-10, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7428-:d:1465893. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.