Bifacial solar panels

Bifacial Solar Panels (2024–2025) – Overview & Key Facts

What Are Bifacial Solar Panels?

Definition & Function: Bifacial solar panels are photovoltaic modules that generate electricity from both sides (front and back) of the panel. Unlike traditional monofacial panels (which only absorb light on their front surface), bifacial panels have solar cells exposed on both faces to capture direct sunlight and albedo (reflected light) from the environment. They usually feature a transparent glass back or clear backsheet, allowing sunlight to pass through and illuminate the rear cells. In effect, any light that reflects off the ground or surrounding surfaces can be absorbed by the panel’s backside, increasing total energy output. Bifacial panels are often installed on elevated racks or above high-reflectance surfaces (e.g. white roofs, concrete, sand, or snow) to maximize this rear-side exposure. Under optimal conditions, a bifacial module can produce ~10–20% more energy than an equivalent monofacial module due to this dual-sided collection. (The exact gain depends on factors like mounting height, tilt, and ground reflectivity, as discussed later.)

Key Advantages of Bifacial vs Monofacial Panels

Bifacial panels offer several advantages over conventional one-sided panels:

• Higher Energy Yield: Because they capture sunlight on both sides, bifacial panels generate more electricity per panel, especially in environments with reflective ground or surfaces. Even with the same footprint, a bifacial array can deliver a significant energy boost (often +5–15% output, and up to ~20% extra in good conditions). This higher yield per panel means better land use efficiency and lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for projects.
• Increased Efficiency: The overall panel efficiency (energy conversion rate) is effectively higher since the rear-side contribution adds to the front-side output. Modern bifacial modules commonly achieve ~20–22% front-side efficiency (with premium models >22%), slightly above many monofacial panels, plus additional rear gain. In practice, this means fewer panels might be needed to produce the same energy, saving space or mounting hardware.
• Durability & Longevity: Bifacial modules are often built with a glass/glass frameless design (tempered glass on both sides) for strength. This construction makes them more robust against weather, UV exposure, and mechanical stress. Many come with longer product warranties (typically 30 years) due to their enhanced durability.
• Better Low-Light Performance: By collecting diffuse and indirect light on the rear, bifacial panels perform relatively better during early morning, late afternoon, and cloudy conditions when sunlight is at low angles or scattered. The backside can capture ambient light from the sky or reflections that a monofacial panel would miss, smoothing out energy production throughout the day.
• Aesthetic & Novel Uses: The transparent or dual-glass design can be visually appealing in certain installations (e.g. glass building facades or canopies). Bifacial panels can be used in creative ways (like as part of a skylight, pergola, or agrivoltaic fence) where light passes through, offering architectural integration that traditional opaque-back panels can’t.

Note: The main drawback historically has been a higher upfront cost – bifacial modules have tended to cost around 5–10% more than monofacial ones due to more advanced materials and dual-glass construction. They can also be heavier, and since both sides are active, they may require more careful maintenance (keeping the backside clean). However, as discussed below, the cost gap is closing with wider adoption and economies of scale.

Typical Applications & Usage Scenarios

Bifacial solar panels are versatile and used in a variety of settings, though they deliver the greatest benefit when the rear side is unobstructed and can receive reflected light. Common usage contexts include:

• Utility-Scale Solar Farms: This is currently the largest market for bifacial panels. Large ground-mounted solar farms increasingly deploy bifacial modules on single-axis trackers. In fact, by 2024 bifacial panels (often paired with trackers) have become the dominant configuration for new utility-scale projects – over 90% of utility-scale modules sold now use bifacial cells. The combination of trackers and bifacial tech maximizes yield (typical tracker gain 15–20% plus an extra 5–10% from the bifacial rear side), delivering the lowest LCOE in most regions. These are used in open fields where there’s space to allow reflected light (e.g. from soil, sand, or ground cover) to hit the panel backs.
• Commercial & Industrial Rooftops: Flat rooftops on warehouses or commercial buildings can benefit from bifacial modules if installed with a tilt and some height above the roof surface. Often a reflective roof membrane or white gravel is used to increase albedo. Elevated bifacial arrays on roofs (or even solar carports over parking lots) allow light to bounce underneath. Canopy and carport installations are popular since the underside of the panel is exposed to ambient light or reflection off pavement. These setups provide shade and additional energy yield simultaneously.
• Residential & Small-Scale: Bifacial panels are less common on typical home rooftops (since flush-mounting against a dark roof yields minimal rear gain). However, they are used in residential ground-mounted systems or as part of architectural elements. For example, homeowners might use bifacial panels in pergolas, trellises, or balcony awnings, where some light passes through. In such cases, they not only generate power but also create an attractive light-filtering effect.
• Agrivoltaics and Specialty Installations: Bifacial modules enable innovative designs like vertical “solar fences” or dual-use agriculture + solar farms. In agrivoltaic fields, bifacial panels can be mounted vertically (or at a steep angle) in rows, capturing sunlight from both the east and west (morning and afternoon sun). This vertical orientation leaves space for crops or livestock and takes advantage of bifacial design to generate power throughout the day. Bifacial technology is also used in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) – for example, as glass curtain walls or awnings that generate energy from sunlight on both sides while also providing shade.

Bifacial solar installation (vertical, east–west oriented panels) in Donaueschingen, Germany. These bifacial “solar fence” modules capture sunlight on both faces – one side in the morning and the opposite side in the afternoon – demonstrating how bifacial panels can be deployed for dual purposes (agricultural land use and power generation). The high albedo (reflectivity) of the grass and surroundings contributes to additional energy yield from the rear sides.

Major Manufacturers of Bifacial Panels (2024–2025)

By 2025, most leading PV manufacturers offer bifacial panels (especially in their high-performance product lines). Key global brands producing bifacial modules include:

• JinkoSolar (China) – Currently the world’s largest solar module supplier (shipped ~75–80 GW in 2023). Jinko’s premium lines (e.g. Tiger Neo n-type series) are bifacial, leveraging TOPCon cell technology for high efficiency.
• Trina Solar (China) – A top-tier manufacturer with bifacial products in its Vertex series. Trina introduced 600 W+ bifacial Vertex N modules and is known for innovative large-format panels. (Trina was among the first to commercialize bifacial PERC and now N-type modules.)
• LONGi Solar (China) – Another industry leader, known for its Hi-MO series. LONGi produces bifacial mono-PERC and next-gen panels (e.g. HPBC back-contact cells) with dual-glass construction. LONGi, Trina, Jinko, and JA together made up more than half of global shipments in 2023​now.solar, reflecting how mainstream bifacial tech has become.
• JA Solar (China) – A major global brand with bifacial offerings, such as its DeepBlue and n-type X Series modules. JA Solar ramped up n-type (TOPCon) production and achieved ~23% efficiency on some bifacial panels in 2024​web.fishaiapp.com.
• Canadian Solar (Canada/China) – Tier-1 manufacturer providing bifacial modules, often under the BiHiKu product line. In 2023 it launched 132-cell TOPCon bifacial modules up to 700 W with about 21.7–22.5% front efficiency and ~20% rear-side gain. These high-output panels are aimed at utility-scale projects.
• First Solar (USA) – Notable as a thin-film PV maker, First Solar historically made CdTe (cadmium telluride) panels that were monofacial. In 2023, they debuted a bifacial thin-film module (Series 6 Plus Bifacial) – the first CdTe bifacial panel. It uses a transparent back contact to let infrared light through, enabling rear-side generation and lower operating temperatures. While still pre-commercial, this development offers an alternative to silicon bifacial tech.

Other producers: Virtually all top module brands now have bifacial options – e.g. REC Group, Hanwha Q CELLS, SunPower/Maxeon, Risen Energy, Astronergy, Yingli, etc., often in their premium mono-crystalline lines. According to industry roadmaps, bifacial modules accounted for roughly 17% of the global market in 2024 and are on track to become the majority of new installations by 2030​

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Performance & Efficiency Metrics (2024–25)

Modern bifacial panels are among the best-performing in terms of efficiency and power. Here are some current specs and what to expect at the high end:

• Front-Side Efficiency: Typical bifacial modules convert around 20–21% of sunlight to electricity (under standard test conditions) on the front side. This is slightly higher than the average older monofacial panel (which might be 18–20%), thanks to bifacial modules often using the latest cell tech (PERC, TOPCon, HJT, etc.). High-end bifacial panels in 2024 reach 22–23% front-face efficiency, and a few record-setting products approach 24%​web.fishaiapp.com. For instance, Aiko Solar’s N-type modules hit ~24.2% in mass production in late 2024​web.fishaiapp.com, and Maxeon’s IBC panels around 24% as well. These numbers are edging close to lab cell efficiencies (the best silicon cells ~26–27%). It’s expected that 23–24% efficient bifacial modules will be commercially common by 2025.
• Power Output (Wattage): Bifacial panel power ratings have grown with larger sizes and improved efficiency. A standard 60-cell or 72-cell bifacial panel for commercial use might be in the 400–550 W range. Utility-scale modules, using larger wafer formats (e.g. 210 mm cells) and 132 or 144-cell layouts, now reach 600–700+ W per panel. For example, Canadian Solar’s bifacial TOPBiHiKu7 series offers 675 W to 700 W models, and other manufacturers have similar bifacial panels around 600–670 W (Trina, Jinko, JA, etc.). Some next-gen panels using HJT or back-contact tech have even exceeded 700 W in tests – Huasun showcased a 720 W HJT bifacial panel in 2024​web.fishaiapp.com. Bottom line: a single bifacial module can now deliver half a kilowatt or more, reducing the number of panels needed in large projects.
• Rear-Side Gain: The additional energy from the backside is usually expressed as a percentage gain over an equivalent one-sided panel. This bifacial gain depends heavily on installation conditions. In typical field conditions (moderate albedo ground and standard mounting), bifacial systems see about 5–15% more energy yield than monofacial​solarbuildermag.com. Industry studies often cite ~10% as a reasonable expected gain for well-optimized systems. With single-axis trackers, the rear gain might be on the lower end (since trackers keep panels more directly facing the sun, leaving less direct light for the rear) – e.g. 3–10% rear gains on trackers vs 5–15% on fixed-tilt in one analysis​solarbuildermag.com​solarbuildermag.com. However, in high-reflectivity environments, the bifacial boost can be much larger. For instance, over snow or white sand, measured bifacial gains of 20–30% have been reported​solarbuildermag.com. (In one snowy-climate study, bifacial arrays had ~30% higher daily energy output than monofacial.) Optimizing the array design – taller mounting, wider row spacing (lower ground cover ratio), and using highly reflective ground cover – can push bifacial gains toward the upper end of that range​solarbuildermag.com.

Pricing Trends (2024–2025)

Module Prices: Solar panel prices dropped significantly through 2023–2024, reaching all-time lows. Bifacial panels, being mainstream, followed the same trend. In the global wholesale market, tier-1 module prices hovered around $0.10–$0.15 per Watt by late 2024. NREL reported that global spot prices were roughly $0.11/W in Q1 2024 – a level so low that margins were extremely tight for manufacturers. This was driven by oversupply and fierce competition among Chinese manufacturers.

However, prices can vary by region and segment:

• In Europe, mainstream modules averaged about €0.10/W (≈$0.11/W) by late 2024, and even premium high-efficiency panels were only around €0.13/W (~$0.14). These are prices on the spot market (untaxed, bulk purchases). Such low costs led to a year-end rush in 2024 as suppliers tried to clear inventory.
• In the United States, prices remain higher due to import tariffs, shipping costs, and the preference for domestic modules. The average selling price for modules in the U.S. was about $0.30–$0.35/W in late 2023 – roughly triple the global spot price. This gap is partly offset by incentives (e.g. the ITC and domestic manufacturing credits), but international buyers should note the regional disparity. Other markets like Asia and Australia generally see prices closer to the global average, often in the $0.15–$0.25/W range for delivered panels (retail costs for small quantities can be higher).

Bifacial vs Monofacial Cost: Initially, bifacial modules were slightly more expensive to produce (due to dual glass, extra encapsulation, etc.). Developers would budget an extra $0.05–$0.10 per watt for using bifacial panels in a project. For example, one guide noted bifacial panels could add 10–20 cents/W in installation cost in earlier years. Fortunately, as manufacturing has scaled up and bifacial designs have become standard for high-power modules, the cost premium has shrunk. By 2024, many manufacturers offer bifacial panels at nearly the same price as monofacial, especially for utility-scale orders. In some cases (due to tariff loopholes in the past or oversupply), bifacial panels have even been a bargain for developers. The slight additional upfront cost, if any, is usually justified by the higher energy yield which improves project economics over time.

Pricing Outlook: Going into 2025, module prices may stabilize or even tick up a bit from the late-2024 floor, as the industry tries to regain healthy margins. Analysts predict prices could rise in early 2025 if manufacturers curtail supply or if demand in big markets stays strong. But the long-term trend remains that solar (including bifacial) is one of the cheapest sources of power. International buyers in 2024–2025 can typically expect bifacial panel pricing in the range of $0.10 to $0.25 per Watt depending on volume and region, with large utility-scale procurements at the low end of that range. Always consider shipping, local taxes, and any applicable trade duties when comparing global prices.

References and Sources

• GYCX Solar – “Ultimate Guide to Bifacial Solar Panels (2024)”
• Wikipedia – “Bifacial solar cells” (concept and technical overview)
• PV Magazine – industry news on bifacial tech and market adoption
• PV Magazine – Canadian Solar 700 W bifacial module specs
• PV Magazine – First Solar bifacial thin-film announcement
• TaiyangNews/SolarBe – Solar module efficiency records (late 2024)​web.fishaiapp.com​web.fishaiapp.com
• NREL Solar Industry Update (2024) – module price trends
• Rinnovabili (Italy) – European PV price index late 2024
• Solar Builder & IEA PVPS – bifacial yield gain studies​solarbuildermag.com​solarbuildermag.com