Diffusing reflectors for bifacial photovoltaic panels

Abstract We present here a model for the collection of energy on both sides of a bifacial photovoltaic panel surrounded by white-painted planes which produce diffuse reflections of the energy reaching them. The model is verified experimentally and is applied to an example related to the collection of energy by a large field of bifacial panels on white-painted ground. Under practical conditions the amount of energy collected in a year is 59% greater than that collected by monofacial cells.