DESIGN OF ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER PLANT SYSTEM USING BIFACIAL PV MODULES

• Main Author: Faris Hilmi, Mohammad
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/73925
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Intermittency issue in PV power plant results in the limited amount of energy that can be generated. Therefore, an innovation emerged to increase the efficiency of conventional PV module power generation, namely the use of bifacial PV modules. A bifacial module is supposed to be able to generate more energy than a conventional, mono-facial module due to its ability to absorb light and generate energy from both of its sides (front and back). Bifacial modules can be utilized for solar power plant system in buildings to create environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings. This study shows that a solar power plant system with bifacial modules will be a better choice than mono-facial modules in terms of performance, economy, and reduction of carbon emissions. Based on simulations conducted at the ITB Center of Infrastructure and Built Environment (CIBE) building, Bandung, West Java, the designed rooftop solar system with bifacial modules can generate 86.183 MWh of energy per year with a performance ratio of 79.8% and 15% renewable penetration. From an economic perspective, this system reduced the building's levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by 8.91%, from IDR 1,021.18/kWh to IDR 930.19/kWh. From the aspect of carbon emissions, this system reduces carbon emissions of the building by 14.96%, from 428.67 tons/year to 390.05 tons/year. Overall, it can be said that bifacial modules can be a solution to increase energy generation from solar power generation systems, one of which is for the application of rooftop solar power plants because the extra generation from the back side of the PV module can surely be a valuable addition to increase energy generation for the building.