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- Title
Validation of Bifacial Photovoltaic Simulation Software against Monitoring Data from Large-Scale Single-Axis Trackers and Fixed Tilt Systems in Denmark.
- Authors
Riedel-Lyngskær, Nicholas; Berrian, Djaber; Alvarez Mira, Daniel; Aguilar Protti, Alexander; Poulsen, Peter Behrensdorff; Libal, Joris; Vedde, Jan
- Abstract
Featured Application: This work can assist photovoltaic (PV) project developers and financiers with bankability assessments and due diligence of PV simulation software. In addition, the real-world bifacial gains presented here can inform PV developers' expectations in pre-construction phases. The size and number of utility-scale bifacial photovoltaic (PV) installations has proliferated in recent years but concerns over modeling accuracy remain. The aim of this work is to provide the PV community with a validation study of eight tools used to simulate bifacial PV performance. We simulate real 26 kilowatt-peak (kWp) bifacial arrays within a 420-kWp site located in northern Europe (55.6° N, 12.1° E). The substructures investigated include horizontal single-axis trackers (HSATs) and fixed tilt racks that have dimensions analogous to those found in utility-scale PV installations. Each bifacial system has a monofacial reference system with similar front side power. We use on-site solar radiation (global, diffuse, and beam) and albedo measurements from spectrally flat class A sensors as inputs to the simulation tools, and compare the modeled values to field measurements of string level power, rear and front plane of array irradiance, and module temperature. Our results show that state-of-the-art bifacial performance models add ~0.5% uncertainty to the PV modeling chain. For the site investigated, 2-D view factor fixed tilt simulations are within ±1% of the measured monthly bifacial gain. However, simulations of single-axis tracker systems are less accurate, wherein 2-D view factor and 3-D ray tracing are within approximately 2% and 1% of the measured bifacial gain, respectively.
- Subjects
DENMARK; SIMULATION software; SOLAR radiation; RAY tracing; DUE diligence; UNCERTAINTY; MAXIMUM power point trackers
- Publication
Applied Sciences (2076-3417), 2020, Vol 10, Issue 23, p8487
- ISSN
2076-3417
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/app10238487