The technology behind bifacial solar panels is relatively simple. The panels consist of a layer of photovoltaic cells, which are the part of the panel that converts sunlight into electricity. These cells are typically made of silicon, which is a highly efficient material for converting sunlight into electricity.

The key difference between bifacial solar panels and traditional single sided panels is the presence of a reflective layer on the backside of the panel. This reflective layer is typically made of a highly reflective material, such as aluminum, that bounces sunlight back onto the photovoltaic cells on the backside of the panel. This allows the panel to capture sunlight from both the front and back sides, increasing the overall efficiency of the panel.

One of the major advantages of bifacial solar panels is their increased efficiency. Because they are able to capture sunlight from both sides of the panel, they are able to generate more electricity than traditional single sided panels. In fact, bifacial solar panels can be up to 30% more efficient than single sided panels under certain conditions.

Another advantage of bifacial solar panels is their versatility. Because they can capture sunlight from both the front and back sides of the panel, they can be installed in a variety of locations and configurations. For example, they can be mounted on the ground or on rooftops, and they can be used in both residential and commercial solar installations.

Additionally, bifacial solar panels are highly durable and reliable. They are typically made with high quality materials, such as tempered glass and aluminum frames, which make them resistant to extreme weather conditions and other environmental factors. This means that bifacial solar panels can be expected to last for many years with little maintenance.

Overall, bifacial solar panels are a highly efficient and versatile technology that can significantly improve the performance of any solar installation. By capturing sunlight from both sides of the panel, bifacial solar panels are able to generate more electricity and provide a higher return on investment for homeowners and businesses alike.

Solar industry leaders from across the United States and the globe gathered in an informative and especially timely virtual event as the pv magazine Roundtables USA took place on November 9. 

As the U.S. and global solar markets rapidly recover from disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, a vision of optimal, resilient solar PV solutions to speed decarbonization and tackle the existential climate challenge was shared. Through a total of six hours of curated sessions that were moderated by Senior U.S. Editor David Wagman, U.S. Editor Tim Sylvia, global Editor in Chief Jonathan Gifford, and Associate Editor Ryan Kennedy, equipment manufacturers, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders shared their view of how to accelerate deployment in pursuit of national and global goals.

Session two focuses on strategies to deploy solar rapidly under a changing landscape. Watch here

Session 2: Accelerating solar deployment

Garrett Nilsen, acting director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office opened the second session, outlining the Biden Administration’s clean energy goals with a focus on solar energy, and the related initiatives DOE is pursuing.

Next, a panel of four led a talk titled “Lead, follow, or get out of the way: What solar needs to expand.” Panel members who were interviewed by David Wagman and Tim Sylvia included Suzanne Leta, head of policy and strategy for SunPower; Dean Solon founder of Shoals Technologies Group; Elizabeth Sanderson, executive director of  Solar Energy International; and Paul Wormser, vice president of technology for Clean Energy Associates.

The group covered a range of subjects, including highlights of the DOE-backed SolarAPP+, an automated permitting app that is slashing residential solar permit wait times. A call for greater diversity in the solar workforce was shared, as only 30% of the workforce are women, and only 8% are Black. It also weighed in on how the U.S. may be able to expand its solar manufacturing base and over what period of time.

Huawei shipped 51 GW of PV inverters in 2021. This was revealed during a press conference by a company spokesperson, who also revealed that the Chinese conglomerate and inverter maker shipped 2 GW of storage systems last year. In 2020, total PV inverter shipments totaled 41.7 GW.

Longi reported this week its revenue grew by 48% to CNY 80.9 billion (US$12.4 billion) in 2021. Its profit, however, declined by 6.2% to CNY 9.1 billion. The PV wafer and module manufacturer produced 70 GW of wafers last year, of which 33.9 GW were for internal use and 36.1 GW for external clients. Total module shipments reached 38.52 GW, lower than the 40 GW projects at the beginning of 2021. At the end of last year, the company reached production capacities for monocrystalline wafers, solar cells, and PV modules of 105 GW, 37 GW and 60 GW, respectively. The company estimates its 2022 module shipments will be between 90 and 100 GW and yearly revenues will reach over CNY 100 million.

Heterojunction (HJT) photovoltaics manufacturer Golden Solar has signed a one-year lease agreement, to start on July 1, with HJT cell maker JP-Solar Power (Fujian) Co Ltd for a 250 MW solar cell production line. With cast-mono wafer making facilities already in place, Golden Solar said in its annual report for 2021, published last week, cell and module production would form the next part of its transformation from a footwear manufacturer to a PV business.

Wafer maker Zhonghuan Semiconductor will change its name from Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co., Ltd to TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology Co., Ltd. The English abbreviation also changed from TJSEMI to TZE.

Solar developer Shunfeng has again postponed the release of details of a shareholder vote to consider the CNY 890 million ($135 million) sale of four PV projects with a total generation capacity of 132 MW. Details of the meeting were initially due on Jan. 28, but their release was last week postponed for a fourth time, until the end of May. Shunfeng revealed in its annual report for 2021, that the assets of one of the solar project businesses in question, Xinjiang Tianli, have been frozen by order of the Changzhou Intermediate People’s Court of Jiangsu province, complicating the projected sale process. In an additional wrinkle for Shunfeng, it also announced last week it had missed the four-month deadline for publishing its annual report, due to Covid-related restrictions in China. The numbers have now been promised on or before May 13.

State-owned solar panel glassmaker Luoyang Glass’ acquisition of a 60% stake in rival Qinhuangdao North Glass Co Ltd last year resulted in a non-recurring loss of CNY 108 million for its first-quarter earnings, which reduced net profit for shareholders by 97% from the CNY 136 million recorded in January to March 2021, to CNY 4.1 million in the first quarter this year. That result came despite this year’s first-quarter revenue rising from CNY 853 million in the first three months of 2021, to CNY 1 billion. Luoyang last week reported raw material and fuel costs rose 76% year on year for the latest first quarter reporting period, to CNY 893 million but finance costs fell 45%, from CNY 32.9 million to CNY 18 million and government grant income rose, from CNY 5.6 million in January- March 2021, to CNY 68.3 million.

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The Xiangdao New Energy subsidiary of GCL New Energy‘s project development business wants to raise CNY 510 million by entering a 12-year sale-and-leaseback agreement with a state-owned leasing company to help pay down two loans. Xiangdao New Energy must settle CNY 188 million owed to Zhujiang Financial Leasing Co Ltd in November and owes the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd CNY 243 million by June 2024. The GCL subsidiary, which owns solar parks with a generation capacity of 161 MW and a book value of CNY 553 million, plans to transfer them to state-owned CR Leasing in return for CNY 510 million and will then lease them back – after paying a CNY 5.1 million handling fee – for 48 quarterly payments which, at the current interest rate of 5.9%, would cost CNY 15 million each. The proposal must be approved by GCL New Energy controlling shareholders Elite Time Global, which holds 49% of the stock, and Dongsheng Photovoltaic, which has 9%.

Manufacturer Solargiga wants to issue stock worth around 16.55% of ingot and wafer making subsidiary Qujing Yangguang to raise enough cash for the business unit to acquire a second Solargiga subsidiary from a third of the company’s business units. The parent last week said Qujing Yangguang would use CNY 255 million of the projected CNY 460 million proceeds of the share placing to complete the acquisition of ingot and wafer business Jinzhou Youhua from its Solargiga Energy unit. If shareholders approve the transaction, CNY 125 million of the cash will be used to purchase assets to expand Qujing Yangguang’s ingot and wafer production capacity, while the CNY 80 million balance will bolster the unit’s working capital. The move will dilute Solargiga’s holding in Qujing Yangguang from 53.7% to 44.81% but the company will remain the controlling shareholder.

State-owned utility China Energy Engineering has released first-quarter figures indicating the contract value of its photovoltaic project business had increased more than fourfold on the values recorded in January to March 2021. The company last week also highlighted new energy storage projects, including a 400 MW/800 MWh site in Youyou county, Shouzhou city, Shanxi province; a 200 MW/400 MWh facility at Yungang Tuobo Hengtai; and a 100 MW/200 MWh project in Ningchu Litong district.

Rooftop solar installer and battery manufacturer Comtec Solar announced an annual loss for shareholders of CNY 45 million from last year, in unaudited annual figures released at the end of March. That marked an improvement on the CNY 65.7 million shed in 2020 as the former solar manufacturer wound down its polysilicon and wafer production facilities, although revenue fell to CNY 54.8 million last year, from CNY 55 million a year earlier. Comtec ran down an inventory worth CNY 17.2 million in 2020 to CNY 3.16 million in 2021 and saw the value of its current assets fall from CNY 144 million to CNY 80.6 million over the same period. The latest figures stated the business had CNY 296 million more current liabilities than current assets in 2021, which marked a worsening in the working capital deficit of CNY 291 million which had been recorded in 2020.

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