Bifacial solar panels

In this section of our website you can find all bifacial solar panels that we currently have in stock. These are powerful PV modules, ideal for commercial and industrial projects. Since bi-modules only recently rose in popularity and not everybody is familiar with them, let us tell you a little about them.

What are bifacial solar panels?

A bifacial solar panel is a PV module with two active sides. Instead of a white or black back sheet on the rear side, it has another layer of glass that protects solar cells. It often doesn’t have a frame.

How do bifacial solar panels work?

The front side of a bifacial panel works just like any normal panel would do. However, the rear side harvests the light that is reflected from the surface and diffused light. Usually, it gives you up to 30% of the front side’s production. For example, a 400 Watt bifacial solar panel gets a 130 Watt bonus if the conditions are good. Since the backside of the bifacial panel is made to work with diffused light, it performs well in low light conditions, such as cloudy weather, fall and winter days.

How to install bifacial solar panels?

In theory, bifacial modules can be installed just the same way as the standard panels are. However, bifacial panels are more often used in ground-based installation or systems on flat roofs, because you need a good tilt to take advantage of a rear side. Your installer has to take albedo into consideration which is the reflectivity of a surface where panels are installed. Asphalt or black surface, for example, gives the lowest bifacial gain, and sometimes installers put a white membrane underneath the modules to increase albedo.

Here is a diagram of bifacial solar panels functioning. You can see that solar panels are often raised from the ground to prevent overheating. Careful planning is key: you want to minimize the shading of not only the panels, but the surface as well.

What are the benefits of bifacial solar panels?

There are several. For starters, bifacial solar panels efficiency is higher than standard. Mono-side panels have a 17-21% energy conversion rate on average. When the rear side of a bi-module works at full capacity, its efficiency can reach 25-27%. Thus you need much less space to build a powerful solar system.

Output warranties usually last a bit longer for bifacial panels. Standard solar panels usually have a 25-year warranty for performance. Bifacial panels come with a 30-year warranty.

Besides, bifacial panels can be installed in a number of different ways — for example, vertical installation is a viable option. Different configurations allow your installation to provide more power in different times of the day.

Finally, some prefer the design of bifacial panels to standard one. Bifacial panels sometimes are frameless and they are often transparent which makes them blend well with your roof.

Who produces bifacial solar panels?

More and more companies start making bi-modules; first and foremost, brands that aim to produce panels for commercial and industrial installations take interest in them. JA Solar, Jinko, Trina, Canadian Solar can be listed among most popular bifacial solar panels manufacturers. Solar experts see great potential in bifacial modules and expect them to become more and more popular, which means we can expect more and more brands to start making them.

Cost of bifacial solar panels

Bi-modules are more expensive than standard solar panels of the same power. However, you have to take into consideration the bifacial gain that the rear side provides. When it’s properly used, a bifacial panel proves to be cost-effective — for example, a 480W bifacial panel with 30% production bonus from the rear side is going to produce more energy than two 300W panels. In these circumstances a bifacial solar panel price is going to be less than the price of two panels and it will also occupy less space.

The cheapest panels come from China. For example, Trina Solar bifacial panels are a solid choice: the company is known to be modern and innovative. Today this company competes in Top-5 world’s solar brands and offers a diverse product line with relatively low prices. Another good choice would be LONGi Solar bifacial panels. The modules from this Chinese brand tend to be even cheaper, though slightly less popular and efficient.

American companies also make bifacial modules for residential and commercial solar projects. Their prices tend to be a little higher, but the quality may be slightly better. American companies also often provide better warranties for their products. For example, you can go for Canadian Solar bifacial panels that are known to excel in low-light conditions. Canadian Solar is a semi-Chinese brand with manufacturing sites in Asia which explains its moderate prices. We can also recommend taking a look at Silfab bifacial solar panels: this Canadian brand provides the most efficient panels in NA and gives solid warranties for its products.

Why buy from us

We offer a variety of different bifacial solar panels for sale from brands from all over the world. Here are the things that make A1SolarStore stand out in line:

• Our fulfillment centers are located on the East and West coasts of the United States. You can use the map of our centers to check the availability of products.
• We process all orders in 24 hours and ship them in 48 hours. Inverters and charge controllers are shipped free of charge.
• Orders are delivered by freight transport in 4-7 business days. You can also grab your order yourself from the fulfillment center.
• We sell the best bifacial solar panels only from verified manufacturers — no counterfeit products.
• We offer affordable pricing on all solar energy equipment

If you are interested, browse through various models in our store. You can use our solar calculator to get an idea of how many panels you’ll need and how much the system is going to cost. Our managers are always happy to answer any questions concerning bifacial solar panels quotes, prices, warranties and shipment.