Vertical Bifacial Photovoltaic Railings for Building Edges
Conceived by researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, vertical bifacial photovoltaic railings for building edges, integrating bifacial photovoltaic panels, are considered an ideal solution for "cool roofs." Roof albedo and module orientation are key drivers of system performance.
The system integrates vertical bifacial photovoltaic modules directly onto roof railings. One of its key features is an optional reflective surface that enhances reflected irradiance. The vertical orientation reduces mutual shading between modules, thereby optimizing space utilization and minimizing shading from surrounding buildings.
The system is described as promising for large-scale deployment in urban environments, particularly in the context of the rise of high-albedo "cool roofs" and radiative cooling technologies.
The experimental setup consists of a series of vertical bifacial photovoltaic modules with different orientations and bifaciality factors. These modules are hypothesized to be based on passivated emitter rear contact (PERC), heterojunction (HJT), and tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cell technologies. A multiphysics approach is employed to model the coupled optical, thermal, and electrical dynamics to simulate real-world performance under different conditions.
Furthermore, the scientists found that the system exhibits orientation insensitivity. "Northward orientation maximizes bifacial gain, while east-west orientation maximizes power output, making it adaptable to varying latitudes. This significant performance advantage and orientation adaptability suggest that the system has superior installation potential compared to monofacial systems."
Looking forward, the team plans to employ spectrally engineered coatings that can guide solar photons, achieving both albedo enhancement and spectral conversion. These coatings will not only increase surface reflectivity but also optimize the spectral match between reflected light and photovoltaic cell responsivity, offering a promising approach to further enhance rooftop reflected irradiance in bifacial photovoltaic systems.
Vertical Bifacial Photovoltaic Railings for Building Edges
Conceived by researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, vertical bifacial photovoltaic railings for building edges, integrating bifacial photovoltaic panels, are considered an ideal solution for "cool roofs." Roof albedo and module orientation are key drivers of system performance.
The system integrates vertical bifacial photovoltaic modules directly onto roof railings. One of its key features is an optional reflective surface that enhances reflected irradiance. The vertical orientation reduces mutual shading between modules, thereby optimizing space utilization and minimizing shading from surrounding buildings.
The system is described as promising for large-scale deployment in urban environments, particularly in the context of the rise of high-albedo "cool roofs" and radiative cooling technologies.
The experimental setup consists of a series of vertical bifacial photovoltaic modules with different orientations and bifaciality factors. These modules are hypothesized to be based on passivated emitter rear contact (PERC), heterojunction (HJT), and tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cell technologies. A multiphysics approach is employed to model the coupled optical, thermal, and electrical dynamics to simulate real-world performance under different conditions.
Furthermore, the scientists found that the system exhibits orientation insensitivity. "Northward orientation maximizes bifacial gain, while east-west orientation maximizes power output, making it adaptable to varying latitudes. This significant performance advantage and orientation adaptability suggest that the system has superior installation potential compared to monofacial systems."
Looking forward, the team plans to employ spectrally engineered coatings that can guide solar photons, achieving both albedo enhancement and spectral conversion. These coatings will not only increase surface reflectivity but also optimize the spectral match between reflected light and photovoltaic cell responsivity, offering a promising approach to further enhance rooftop reflected irradiance in bifacial photovoltaic systems.
