Bifacial solar panels.

[zapp_brannigan]

I have been collecting data on two strings of panels .
Four bifacial panels - rated 620 watts each in series on a roof with the ordinary shiny mabati with no paint
Four bifacial - rated 620 watts each in series on box profile with maroon paint .

The installation is in Kanjuku in Githunguri. The cool weather and the reflection on the ordinary mabati is making the yield on the four panels sometimes exceed the rated power and most of the time hovering at around 575 watts per panels .
Panels on the roof with box profile have a lower yield compared to the first set and never gets rated power output . The max output is around 570 watts .

If you decide to go for bifacial panels ensure the base is reflective you can even paint the area white or if on a ground mount ensure something reflective /bright is spread . A white plastic sheet will improve things by a big margin .

It's also important to have a decent charge controller .Avoid the cheap all in one hybrid inverters .

 

[mzeiya]

I would have thought the reflective mabati or white surfaces would be counterproductive but my technical skills are limited to dribbling football players on PS5. We learn every day.

 

[zapp_brannigan]

I would have thought the reflective mabati or white surfaces would be counterproductive but my technical skills are limited to dribbling football players on PS5. We learn every day.

N type bifacial panels work better in such an environment. This is the roof where I installed the 4 panels with the best yield.

In other regions, this is how they are doing it .
Check out this link .

My 44kW vertical and bifacial set in Finland plus now 15kW roof mounted too.

Blizzard today. 1/4 production of my array, so from 44kWp there's ~10kW production in this weather. Not bad.

diysolarforum.com

 

[upepo]

N type bifacial panels work better in such an environment. This is the roof where I installed the 4 panels with the best yield.


View attachment 110149

In other regions, this is how they are doing it .
Check out this link .

My 44kW vertical and bifacial set in Finland plus now 15kW roof mounted too.

Blizzard today. 1/4 production of my array, so from 44kWp there's ~10kW production in this weather. Not bad.

diysolarforum.com

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View attachment 110152

Where are the price comparisons? Why would a client choose the bi over the mono?

 

[Snowball]

I have been collecting data on two strings of panels .
Four bifacial panels - rated 620 watts each in series on a roof with the ordinary shiny mabati with no paint
Four bifacial - rated 620 watts each in series on box profile with maroon paint .

The installation is in Kanjuku in Githunguri. The cool weather and the reflection on the ordinary mabati is making the yield on the four panels sometimes exceed the rated power and most of the time hovering at around 575 watts per panels .
Panels on the roof with box profile have a lower yield compared to the first set and never gets rated power output . The max output is around 570 watts .

If you decide to go for bifacial panels ensure the base is reflective you can even paint the area white or if on a ground mount ensure something reflective /bright is spread . A white plastic sheet will improve things by a big margin .

It's also important to have a decent charge controller .Avoid the cheap all in one hybrid inverters .
View attachment 110136

View attachment 110137

I have 3.5Kw system and have noticed peak power production is earlier in the day and later afternoon. On super hot days actually production is lower. I have two 550 W panels running an All-in-One battery/inverter portable back-up system. I would love to go off grid completely with something like 12Kw system one of these days. My roofing wont be optimal for bi-focal system. Which brand has the best inverters?

 

[zapp_brannigan]

Where are the price comparisons? Why would a client choose the bi over the mono?

Currently in the market the panels with high power ratings happen to be bifacial panels - from 580 watts and higher and they are cheaper per watt compared to the convectional one sided panels . Currently the rate is Ksh 14 per watt .

 

[zapp_brannigan]

I have 3.5Kw system and have noticed peak power production is earlier in the day and later afternoon. On super hot days actually production is lower. I have two 550 W panels running an All-in-One battery/inverter portable back-up system. I would love to go off grid completely with something like 12Kw system one of these days. My roofing wont be optimal for bi-focal system. Which brand has the best inverters?

The below will not disappoint. I would recommend running two inverters in parallel to achieve the 12 kW you mentioned . For instance if you go for 6kW TBB x 2 you will have total solar capacity of upto 17.6 kW of PV power .

Victron
TBB
Deye

 

[mzeiya]

It might just be time to say ferk off to KPLC. This is today's paper

 

[zapp_brannigan]

It might just be time to say ferk off to KPLC. This is today's paper
View attachment 110181

Its one of the conditions for them to lift the PPA