Recently, commercial softwares for PV system simulation released bifacial extensions. While research laboratories have developed their own simulation tools, in both cases it is imperative to display their applicability, as well as continuously assess their accuracy and/or limitations in practice, i.e. for different bifacial PV systems and field conditions. This paper presents a design and energy yield simulation study of two bifacial PV systems installed and operating in Nordic climate conditions, i.e. in Vestby, Norway ( System 1) and in Halmstad, Sweden (System 2). The aim of this study is: • To validate and compare the accuracy of two bifacial PV simulation tools newly featured in the software platforms of PVsyst and Polysun respectively, against real-field energy yield data. Each investigated system is modeled and analyzed with both simulation tools, resulting in four individual case stu dies. Further details on the systems’ monitoring set-up, the data input, modeling steps, and the involved uncertainties are presented in this paper. The results of the four case studies show higher percent deviations (both monthly and hourly data) between simulated energy results and real energy results during winter periods compared to summer periods. System 1 had a lower bifacial gain (around 2%) than System 2 which ranges from 2% in summer periods to 25% during winter. The collected field data had too high of an uncertainty to determine whether the bifacial PV simulation extensions are accurate within a certain tolerance. The reason for higher simulation inaccuracy in the winter is due to: lower production, higher uncertainty in albedo, and more diffuse irradiation. It is recommended for the bifacial PV simulation extensions include options for considering a variable albedo. The bifacial gain in System 2 was higher in the winter because of the higher albedo value given whereas in System 1, the albedo value was kept constant. Further parametric studies should be conducted on the bifacial gain using vertical mounted bifacial PV modules oriented east and west for Nordic climate conditions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:du-26562 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Graefenhain, Marcus |
| Publisher | Högskolan Dalarna, Energiteknik |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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