THE OPTIMAL CONFIGURATION DESIGN OF A BIFACIAL PHOTOVOLTAIC-BASED SOLAR POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

• Main Author: Jectofer Meka, Josiah
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/76032
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Bifacial solar modules are photovoltaic panels with the capability to harness solar energy from both their front and back sides. The global market predicts that by the year 2030, bifacial solar modules will dominate the modules utilized in electricity generation. Bifacial solar modules exhibit superior durability in comparison to their monofacial counterparts. Given the anticipated trajectory of the global market, it becomes imperative to comprehend the characteristics of bifacial modules in order to facilitate their effective integration into photovoltaic systems, thereby ensuring optimal system performance. The configuration of bifacial solar modules plays a pivotal role in determining their electricity generation performance. A well- designed configuration facilitates the ingress of light through the back side of the module via reflections from the installation surface. Research into various system configuwereions for bifacial modules was undertaken atop the CIBE Building at the Bandung Institute of Technology. This research involved proposing multiple designs for solar power generation systems. The resultant design concepts and corresponding annual power generation figure were as follows: Monofacial Design 70.1 MW, Bifacial Design 1: 75.2 MW, Bifacial Design 2: 85 MW, Bifacial Design 3: 79.5 MW, Bifacial Design 4: 79.4 MW. The power output values in bifacial systems were influenced by factors such as elevation, azimuth angle, and ground coverage ratio (GCR). Considering the impact of configuration, an optimum design configuration termed Bifacial Design 5 can be formulated for the photovoltaic system. This specific photovoltaic configuration has the potential to generate an annual energy output of 88.1 MW. A well-optimized configuration can contribute to a reduction in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The utilization of a photovoltaic system equipped with monofacial modules can result in electricity cost savings of 0.81% monthly for the CIBE Building. Conversely, leveraging a well- tailored bifacial photovoltaic system configuration can translate to electricity cost savings ranging from 1.24% to 1.37% per month.