Vertical Bifacial Solar Panel Performance Results Part 1: ua-cam.com/video/5AVO1IyfA9M/v-deo.html Find Bifacial Solar Panel sources and discounts on my website: projectswithdave.com/solar-panels/ Donate towards a future project - THANK YOU!! projectswithdave.com/donations/give/ US made Bifacial Solar Panels: signaturesolar.com/12-87kw-pallet-sirius-pv-415w-bifacial-solar-panel-assembled-in-texas-elnsm54m-hc-415-up-to-539w-with-bifacial-gain-full-pallet-31-solar-panels-12-87kw-total-pallet/?ref=SALE
Those are not "US Made" panels, they are ASSEMBLED in US made from imported parts. US Made has a legal definition to be made from parts manufactured within the USA which these do not.
The problem with the bifacial system with reflectors is that solar panels are designed to operate with equal light all over its surface and having extra light at the bottom doesn’t produce more power and may prematurely age the panels.
Your video here has some very interesting things that could probably prove some interesting results. you mentioned using a different style of reflector where the light could be diffused. Techingredients could help there, but IDK if you would want to go thru the process. He has a video on super reflective paint. I want bifacial panels over metal roofing that's painted with a super reflective paint to increase output. The idea that using diffused light on the other side of the panel to reduce hot spots is genius!
@@arloalps6215 it will still hit the bottom of the panel stronger than the top. Also, higher up in the air, bi facial panels become even more like a sail and most roofs aren’t designed for those kinds of loads.
Being off grid I’ve found early morning and late afternoon is my nemesis, so I added 6 panels to the east and 6 to the west. With 18 I already had facing south. This was a huge benefit, that extra early morning power when you are on fumes made a big difference and the west panels kept the pack full all the way to sunset even running loads. Giving me basically 4 extra hours of useable sun. Not high output, but badly needed output at the right moment. Which helps me use a smaller battery pack to get me through
@@ProjectsWithDave It’s a balancing act. Once I added the panels for critical timing, I was able to only need 4 48v rack batteries instead of 6. Was able to then use the other 2 rack batteries to build a system for my RV which I can just connect to in the event of a short fall in the home system.
I had done a similar setup but mine is more like a half circle, but that was before and later I upgrades to solar tracking mounts. Just automatic left to right for daily tracking with a manual up and down for different angles during the year I need to just like 4 times a year.
@@ProjectsWithDave kinda more like, why am I running on battery 3 hours after sunrise and 3-4 hours before sunset, at 20-30 cents per watt that last for 30 years solar panels are way the wise investment compared to batteries that may last 10 years or less.
@@SSingh-nr8qz u shape is ideal really, straight line panels are for grid tie tidy setups, a true off grid setup will have panels everywhere to catch sun whenever it can so long as space permits.
I’ve been doing this for a few years already with my standard panels as well as the first bifacials, but it’s much more consistent to use opaque white instead of something super reflective/specular like the Mylar that you used. The opaque white gathers and spreads more evenly across the entire array plus you won’t add any additional reflective heat from the super reflective surface as well as hot spots that can develop from the Mylar not being totally flat where the white reflection also spreads to wider angles.
Makes a lot of sense since mylar not only reflects visible light but also a good portion and amount of IR (and maybe some of some other spectrum like some UV?) whereas opaque white will mostly just reflect the visible light, and as you said, more diffusely so (less concentrated hot spots). Good tip.
I was thinking orca reflective film - it's used by hydroponic guys 😊 - it's white rather than mirror like but 90 - 95% reflective and tougher than standard myler.
Try orca reflective film. It's white in colour but is @90-95% reflective. It is also slightly tougher than standard mylar. It is used by people who grow hydroponic indoors.😊 They tend to want something that is highly reflective and tough.
I agree. The film comes in 52" wide, 100' long. 2 or 3 rows (104" or 156"**) should create a lot of reflected light, and being diffused light, the film can be laid at just enough of an angle to drain water. No shading the the bottom in the early morning. Also extend it beyond the film 3 or 4 feet to the north and south. ** When the weather is predicted to be nice 3 days in a row (I'm in San Diego - so I may be asking the impossible) Lay down one row of film, then measure the daily output. Second day, the second row, third day, third row to see where diminishing returns occur. I would expect 3 rows will improve early morning production most, but significantly improve noon as well.
The Action Lab youtube channel has several videos using White 2.0, which is claimed to be the world's brightest white paint. However, I don't think that's necessary. I expect any brilliant white paint should work well, and it's better to minimize cost than eke out a few percent improvement in light reflection. My main concern is degradation in sunlight. Mylar apparently breaks down in UV, so it's not a good long-term product. Whatever film, coating, or paint that's used should be durable and naturally stay clean.
I’m not an engineer but a small vertical gap between the posts and a horizontal gap between the panels would lower the probability of wind damage without significantly adding to the size of the array. I really like the consideration that a reduction in peak exposure would lengthen the useful life of the panel as well. Thanks for sharing your research.
The lengthened useful life is actually because this orientation is more effective at keeping the solar panels cool, since air is able to flow up both sides.
I think you are right about the vertical gap. If you are using these panels for a privacy fence you might offset a standard wood panel or post behind or in front of that gap to allow wind to flow around and through it while still blocking the view.
"holes" in fencing to mitigate wind pressure tend not to work as desired until you reach something approaching 50% gap space, like snow-drift fencing. If the gaps are not large, it can actually increase the effect of wind because of the vortices which come into play. A completely gap-free fence has the benefit of building up a bubble of high-pressure air in front of it, which is actually 'vaguely' aerodynamic. Alleviating that pressure pocket can in effect make that pressure bubble more flattened/blunt in shape... If you're really worried about wind, then some snow-drift fencing off to the sides could help reduce the wind speed that hits the solar panel. (would block some rays right at dawn and dusk though). Also orienting the panels so they are less tall (but a longer wall of them) would be dramatically more wind resistant. Would make the needed size of reflector material much narrower too.
Thanks for all of your hard work! I know that time, real effort, and a love of knowledge are behind your videos… I can feel it! Thank you and know that you are informing people and helping them to enrich their own lives. You are a true American.
A cheap alternative for keeping birds off your panels is fishing string. I attached a couple of rods on the top of each end of the panels, and ran fishing string a few inches above the span of the panels (similar to barbed wire above a fence). Tie some small strips of fabric to the string every few feet and it gives a visual deterramce in the breeze. Havent had a single bird land in a couple years, and when the string goes bad, ill simply replace it.
I saw another person using mirrors on a Bifacial similar to this and he found as he pulled the mirror back about 3-4 feet away it put the most light onto the solar panel, he gained about 60 watts on the Bifacial side. The negative with extreme reflected light is the solar panel got very hot 150+F .
You're absolutely correct that nobody talks about how easily you cook your panel. I use water from a stream that's pipe down a hill that cools my solar array that I'm currently playing with. The reflected light from the mirrored surfaces have completely fried panels.
I think that this had a lot to do with the Mirrors reflecting the IR light (HEAT!) as well. Somnething like the "Orca Film" described by other commentors might be the trick, as it was designed to only reflect the visible spectrum, and in a very diffuse manner, at that.
I have discovered with my bi-facial panels that highly reflective material like the mylar you were using will give you greater gains when used from about 10 feet away from the panels. The ambient light they reflect when very close to the panels like you had them also reflect a lot of heat which will negate many times any gains you get. Move the reflective material away and you will notice a greater gain.
I dont even have a house for solar, but the amount of work and detail you put into this video is amazing...watched the entire thing just because your presentation was on point.
Great tests! You mentioned diffuse reflectors may be a better option and I agree. Aluminized foils can fail to reflect 30% or more of the light that hits them, whether it directly absorbs or just passes through the foil. A good ultrawhite paint can be 90%+ reflective, though the diffuse reflection means much of the light will miss your panel. Of course having multiple surrounding panels would help to catch some of it. Simply spraying the ground with chalk may have an impressive temporary effect.
The thing with vertically oriented panels is the heat is better shed than angled panels. Vertical bifacial panels as fencing bypasses the whole can of worms with roof installation...
One of the big benefits of your East/West facing array is that your Solar panels are producing power when you need/use it most. For example: If you live in the South, you typically have your highest energy demand in the late afternoon when your Air Conditioning is working hardest to overcome the heat of the day. The opposite is true in the North during the Winter months, where people are heating their homes in the early morning hours due to the colder overnight temperatures. Consequently, not only are your vertical panels providing energy when it is needed most, but any Solar panels mounted in an East, or West, direction will more closely match the actual energy usage of a typical home. As a side note, if you have an Off-Grid Solar system, it would be beneficial to have a few more panels mounted facing East, or vertical, to get your battery bank charged up quicker in the mornings. This would also help get your battery bank charged on cloudy days.
If you live off grid you will need a battery that can last multiple days without significant solar input. In that case South may be your best orientation to maximize your production for the day.
As soom as you have a battery optimization for (winter) overall energy beats everything. South facing panels that are perpendicular to the sun at noon in the winter will be best. The minimal loss of energy in the summer doesn't matter because in summer there is always enough of it.
@@ProjectsWithDave really if you live off grid your battery system should be configured with multiple Inputs like 1 or 2 wind turbines in conjunction with a solar array coupled with a hydroelectric water diversion turbine from you main water source. With diesel or gas generator as backup.....
@@ProjectsWithDave that's the opposite of the path I chose for my system. We drastically overpanneled our system to have enough to power our modest home on thick cloudy winter days, and dump excess into long-term thermal storage during the rest of the year. Of course we like to be really cool (60s) so the high panneling helps in summer too.
THIS. Every farm around here has a FENCE. (SW Ontario). How much would a long string of bifacial panels cost and what's the utility if THEY'RE NOT TAKING UP AGRICULTURAL SPACE?
In many areas, solar panels are a great item to STEAL for extra cash. Just bring along a battery powered drill and zipp zipp you've lost your fence and your solar!
@@KWifler What areas are you talking about? Here in Germany I've never heard of such behavior. It seems like legit für reagions where powersupply is not good and people ened to use diesel generators, which is expansive.
The depth of the engineering work you're doing, and the enthusiasm you display for it, is inspiring not just for me as a fellow mechanical engineer, but also for the next generation! Here's a suggestion for another analysis: We built a 38-panel DIY bifacial grid-tied ground mount. We did some backyard science trying different tilt angles before building it out, and found better performance for surprisingly high tilt angles up to 45deg. We covered the front-side with cardboard one day, and noticed higher output from the back-side component vs. 32deg which is standard in our area (northern Vermont near Canada). We did the same on a snowy day and saw even more. We chickened out on going 45deg, but ended up at about 42deg. The generation has been good for 2 years, and we've noticed way better snow-sliding performance with the higher tilt. After every snow, our panels slide well before many conventional ground mounts in our town. This really helps that bifacial power surge on sunny days after fresh snow. So my suggestion is to build a ground mount test rig with adjustable tilt angle and evaluate bifacial tilt angles (including a low tilt reference) across the seasons. I think you might find the results surprising....we sure did!
@@ProjectsWithDaveButt, how far has One gone to BYPASS the middle-men Re-sellers. ALSO, has much to do with specific country of origin the products come from.
@@cmbaz1140there's no local manufacturing of solar panels all of them come from China or are repackaged to make them look American. Chinese panels are top of the line, but taxed heavily in Canada and US.
Thanks! I appreciate the support. Check out my multi year performance results videos, you are close enough they should be a good comparison for you. Here is a link for a recent update: ua-cam.com/video/YjKPHuc8T38/v-deo.html
Try "A" frames east and west. Angle depends on your location the angle. You could flatten the curve / optimize production and still take up less relesate.
Installed 3 500W vertical bifacial panels in Ontario Canada, used 4’ deck screw anchors and 8020inc strut as the mounts. Winter is coming, will see what the snowless panels will produce. Note in winter a panel with no snow will out produce a snow covered panel every time.
This. In winter snow climates, snow is the enemy. Often, roof mounted panels get wind drifted snow on them. Wind drifted snow is THICK and DENSE. Winter cloudy days with snow covered panels = zero solar production. Mid latitude Canada, the winter sun angle is about 9 degrees from vertical. Vertical or nearly vertical panels will absolutely maximize snow shedding and therefore solar production during the worst sun months. In summer, a vertical panel facing south will be maxed out anyway, so plan for the winter snow. Stay gold.
My principal thought for vertical east/west bifacial panels is that usually a south facing array makes power between (solar) 10am and 2pm and more energy harvest means more current meaning bigger control gear. With an E/W facing panel the energy harvest is not at peak times so a smaller controller could do BOTH jobs.
it would be cool to see a power vs land use statisic. How much Power is produced by a specific ammount of landuse for any kind of power production. Maybe it also could also show the landuse including the production factories and mining pits.
Saving land may not be worth it. Most crops require loads of sunlight, that they now won't get as they are shaded by panels. So what crop will you grow now that does not need light? Mushrooms?
@@jonasmadsen8535 well you got a point, but for example Winds erode the surface of the field and can harm the plants. It needs to be looked at. Overhead solar is realy good for potatoes for example, but that is not the vertical one, so lets not Look at this. Vertical pv can be installed on farms with cows or chickens for example
i took it more as panel density but now i realise of course, it matters how you pack them so that they don't sit in each other's shade i think a series of tests looking at the energy/area output for a full array would be interesting, since it may be easier to pack more solar panels than to find more land
Vertical panels also don’t see as much heating so they should last longer. Crops between rows of vertical panels also shouldn’t be too affected because they still get the mid day sun.
You can use large print outs of birds of prey (ones that are local to the area you live in) and the birds will stay away. IE- Large owls, hawks, eagles, etc.
😂like idk why i didn't even think of this. I'm getting a portable and I know im gonna put her through her paces..thst unfortunately means she'll be prone to delamination 😢 so i know ill be opting to use morning light and this will definitely help a tonne!
His data showed that mirrors help, but only when compared to other fixed direction panels. They aren't anywhere near as efficient as having a panel aimed right at the sun. The camera in my cell phone can pick out faces to focus on. So the logic behind using a simple light sensor to determine the direction of the sun and aiming panels at it is a no-brainer. A couple of stepper motors with a gear drive should do all the aiming throughout the day. Heck, you could even add a simple logic chain to determine when to orient them vertically (ie: during snowstorms).
For the wind issue consider mounting the panels with an offset pivot. This will allow them to swing and dump the wind pressure. But the offset balance point would return them to vertical when calm. This can also make the panel horizontal(er) during the day when daytime heating starts creating some wind.
It's a very good idea - I like it. But a consequence will be repeated stressing of the electric cables - and you wouldn't want fatigue failures in those. And (thinking further and to minimise cable movement) the connection points for the cables from one panel to the next will need to be near the pivots. But seems worth a try-out.
@@falfield just put a stress-loop near the pivot... and use your best, highest comductor-count wire there. We've been bending conductors for a lonnnng time.
putting a mirror setup underneath the south facing panels would probably be a great idea, it'll reflect light at the back of the panels and won't have any shadow problems.
To deter birds from perching on your solar panels, run strong fishing line, tight, about 2.5 inches above the tops (left to right) of the panels. This way, birds can't get their center of gravity squarely above the panel, making it uncomfortable to perch. This works very well on my balcony railing.
I would think plastic fishing line would keep stretching over time, requiring somewhat frequent tension adjustment. Has someone tried piano wire or rust resistant fishing leader wire? These too, will stretch over time but it should be a quite a lot longer between tension adjustments. They're also UV proof, not just UV resistant. I think bronze wire would be too "stretchy"
@@exgenica My fishing line is not actually stretched really tight. But it is the upper strenght stuff, I think 30 to 50 lbs rated monofilament line, thick and clearly visible. It is not eleastic and absolutly won't stretch out.
I just finished mounting my 460 w bifacial panels in East West vertical position and on partially cloudy day I am showing 500 watts per panel. This is amazing tech
From my limited understanding there's a curve where if you focus too much sun/heat on the panels that it can degrade performance and lifespan. Not sure at what point this becomes an issue though
Concentrated solar doesn't use photovoltaics but just generates heat to spin turbines like any other old fashioned energy source. I think it's an option for seriously large scales in desert-like environments, but there are huge efficiency losses in that process and can't really be compared to bifacial solar panels. Unless I'm seriously misunderstanding something which is always a possibility...
Yeah but that's brilliant if you could manufacture a small high output cells capable of taking focused light instead of fields upon fields. It's a good idea.
Now, set up reflection beds underneath the bifacial southfacing 30 degree panels and measure the boost. You can angle them to make the easier to place in a position to give fairly good boost but you may want to set up low side blinders to prevent light waste causing annoying glare for bystanders. A floating solar array on a pond with bifacial panels teathered to be south facing would also be a great experiment.
Came here to suggest this. I also think reflectors would simply be a boon, period. Especially for those who live in predominantly overcast and morning fog areas, like the Pacific North West/West Coast.
If I remeber correctly dave's in dave's solar panels the back solar panel can only produce 60% of what the front can. But I think newer biffacials have better biffaciality at like 80-90% and this will likely put them very very close to angled south facing arrays.
@@ProjectsWithDave For example this one HJT Bifacial Double Glass 680W 690Wp 700Watt Photovoltaic Solar Panel Module And also I found a paper where they tested a module and it had over 80% bifiaciality. Evaluation of the bifaciality coefficient of bifacial photovoltaic modules under real operating conditions If you google search for "bifiaciality 80%" you'll find much more
@@ProjectsWithDave It seems my replies are getting caught in a sppum filter. If you can't see my other reply search for bifaciality 80% and you will get results.
Very interesting! A parabolic shape, some of that ultra white reflective paint and an elevation gap between the panel and reflector are all possible improvement points.
I'm very interested in using vertical South facing arrays to double as a privacy fence. A bit less performance is okay since the panels are doing double duty for me. I've seen interesting setups where greenhouses with reflective covering are used to boost the performance. The solar arrays are placed between greenhouses. And the sides are curved, which helps reflect through more of the solar arc and distribute across the panels versus flat reflective structures.
If the solar panels were hinged in the middle and could be rotated to be horizontal or vertical during the day, perhaps automatically, maximum solar efficiency could be achieved. 😊👍
Nice idea. Perhaps the concept could be extended into a Venetian blind structure to optimise collection without increasing the land use. They could be flattened to allow equipment to pass unobstructed as well. The added cost/complexity might have too much impact though. Worth exploring, I think.
You have absolutely earned a sub. You are so articulate and so grammatically perfect. It's so nice to hear somebody actually hold a conversation without using the word um, or saying uh a lot. Very great channel and content. Algorithm sends you videos that you watch my patootie!!! I've never seen a video of yours before.And I watch videos like this all the time. Better late than never!!!!
Superb 👍 You made it 🎉. Also, a tip, make the reflector like a convex mirror by adding a curved plastic sheet under it, this will spread the light over a larger area of the panels and you can increase the distance between the reflector and array to remove the shadow. Also, you can make the reflector with white reflective paint on a curved plastic sheet, this will reduce the cost significantly.
You know that your next step is a reflector system for the back side of your south facing bifacial panels right? Great and informative video! I know that a smart, smooth, always perfectly oriented sun tracking array is expensive and not financially worth it unless you have very limited space for your setup. So, what I would like to see is a "dumb" 3 position rotating ground mount test where they face at a vertical position east until 10 AM, then rotate in a single step to a south facing 30 deg angel until 4 in the afternoon where they then rotate to a west facing vertical orientation. I don't care if you used a bifacial or conventional array for the three position mobile array test... and I don't expect to see it any time soon... but I am subscribed in hopes of seeing it someday.
@@ProjectsWithDavehave you seen those sun tunnels people put in their homes to bring light in, small but it really brightens a room 🤔 wonder if this could be applied. This is round. The earth is round, just a thought, but can’t help but think trying round, curved, and spherical might be the answer. I am fascinated by how much the reflection increased the energy.
Main issue is price of bifocal panel... On average, they cost 1.5-2 times more - due to marketing costs while there is still an opportunity to buy a regular panel with a power of 580-620 watts for $120
@@HenriUA haha - well, yes, but that manufacturer sells everything with a big markup. all this is an overpayment for the manufacturer’s expenses on marketing. people are willing to pay a lot for something that is advertised beautifully Unfortunately, marketing is a modern evil, as is planned obsolescence.
Great solution for many installations. I like the photo of the different scenerios. Anti bird landing wire can be installed on panel tops to prevent the birds unless you want them to land there or give the birds alternate perches.
Thanks for the video! This is great information. I live in the suburbs of LA, about 20 miles inland, so no marine layer and very, very sunny. I have 36 x 400 watt roof top panels with 18 facing east, 4 facing south and 14 facing west and I make 94 kwh per day at summer solstice, which is 2.6 kwh per panel per day. It’s amazing to think that those vertical panels are making as much as my 30 degree panels are when they only see sun for half of the day and you’re further north, which should mean less total sun.
Interesting... Is that 2.6kWh an average for all 36 panels for the day? Standard E/W panels on a roof are not the best performers. I did some analysis on that in this video: ua-cam.com/video/M-5qcmlMLSg/v-deo.html
I like the white rock idea. 3' out from panel makes a nice walkway and keeps weeds down, while being a reflector. I live in a desert climate and have done deliveries for a few years, the reflections from a patch of white rocks makes my eyes water.
Thanks for giving us performance numbers! It is somewhat obvious it would improve production. Now, many warehouse roofs are painted white (and flat), but those should also improve performance over grass.
Good information, thank you. Interested white rock application on both positions. Flat vs. center mounding. Mylar is also easily conforms to different shape. Your right there is a lot of efficiency tuning available. Wish you the best of luck.
Only ~1/3 of the way through the video so far- this is the first video I've seen from your channel, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear you're from Texas! Same with the Signature Solar mention- I've actually been interviewing with their sister company recently.
I live in a valley in the mountains,I made a system with one side on wheels, the other side is on a on a rotating bearing plate in the ground, allowing me to follow the sun, and I do use reflectors, and am able to move the panels to a vertical position..The improvements are off the charts..
Might I suggest, (im referring specifically to minute 13:00 ), considering you dont need a mirror type surface to reflect the light into the panels, you could potentially take your verticals from the grass area, to maybe somewhere like whats underneath your solar array to the side. very bright colored quartz like rock used for landscaping. has some glassiness, but will create a much brighter environment for the panels. looking forward to seeing your next video
glad to see this!! after your first video, I imagined setting up mirrors EXACTLY like this!! this would also be a good way to capture rain water for off-grid
❤ thanks for the video 👍 I've been using solar panels since the late 80's early 90's when I became a ham operator. There's a lot of good information around on setting up solar. Probably the best one was a four stack, four sided column on Facebook. There were two columns on either side of the property. The idea (which was accomplished) was a constant wattage year-round. His daily curve flattened out somewhat also. I personally use a sun tracking system that I built. It tracks east and west but I add the latitude manually with a three foot "slip" section of pipe in the northern support post. The other end of the horizontal axle is mounted on a "gimbal" supported by the house (Short leads, better current 😁). Thanks again for the video, just stumbled across it looking for "modern" panels ❤
So basically for a home it would be best to have some "normal" south facing panels and some east/west facing vertical bi-directional panels. Depending on the local power contracts you would generate a lot of energy in the middle pf the day with the "cheap panels". Additionally, you would harvest the early and late sun to charge up a battery and/or to just use the sun directly when you consume the most. Depending on each scenario, maybe something like 60% cheap normal and 40% bifacial vertical panels would be a hood mix. The difficult thing is probably to find the best solution for each home. Most people can't or don't want to place panels vertically in their garden.
Very cool testing. Yeah, would love to see the reflector test, but with something bright white like plain Tyvek wrap, white EPDM roof material, or white tin roof sheets.
Yes finally someone sees the light of reflective panels! This setup can do so much for so many space uses. I wanted to do this and I'm glad you collected data too! I will need this and would like to use this video to pitch to development of my projects.
So you could mount the fence panels a bit higher so they don.t get shaded by the reflector in the morning.also means you can lower the angle on the reflector.
I'd be interested to see about installing a reflective layer on the underside of the 30 degree bifacials. Depending on direction of snowfall they could also possibly double as a heating element to melt snow on the panels if they reflect enough.
This makes me wonder if there's some kind of prism we could put on top of the cells, like the light collector on a skylight tube, that will effectively pull in sunlight no matter the angle
I'm at 49° north so I'm adding vertical arrays and adding reflectors during spring through fall. We do generally get snow on the ground from Dec to March
One variable to consider is power produced vs. power needs throughout the day, winter vs. summer, with storage and without, etc. This is great data collection and design for experiment.
when you install the north south vertical array you may want to also in stall an offset array from east west by dealers choice degrees reflectors: white washed flat panels or white siding should give enough reflection and lower the angle by half
Solar panels in place of the bottom reflectors. I'm not sure, but the angle could reflect some light onto the vertical panels and also fill your midday slump. But they'd probably also heat up.
My property has a 360 degree view sunrise to sunset. I had 4 facing east at an angle and 4 facing west. Later I made a mount that flipped over at noon.
Great experiment! Like anything, you have to install based on your needs. The "ultimate" solution is to have several smaller arrays at optimized angles through the entire sun arc targeting when you need power.
Vertical Bifacial Solar Panel Performance Results Part 1: ua-cam.com/video/5AVO1IyfA9M/v-deo.html
Find Bifacial Solar Panel sources and discounts on my website: projectswithdave.com/solar-panels/
Donate towards a future project - THANK YOU!! projectswithdave.com/donations/give/
US made Bifacial Solar Panels: signaturesolar.com/12-87kw-pallet-sirius-pv-415w-bifacial-solar-panel-assembled-in-texas-elnsm54m-hc-415-up-to-539w-with-bifacial-gain-full-pallet-31-solar-panels-12-87kw-total-pallet/?ref=SALE
Those are not "US Made" panels, they are ASSEMBLED in US made from imported parts. US Made has a legal definition to be made from parts manufactured within the USA which these do not.
The problem with the bifacial system with reflectors is that solar panels are designed to operate with equal light all over its surface and having extra light at the bottom doesn’t produce more power and may prematurely age the panels.
Your video here has some very interesting things that could probably prove some interesting results. you mentioned using a different style of reflector where the light could be diffused. Techingredients could help there, but IDK if you would want to go thru the process. He has a video on super reflective paint. I want bifacial panels over metal roofing that's painted with a super reflective paint to increase output. The idea that using diffused light on the other side of the panel to reduce hot spots is genius!
@@arloalps6215 it will still hit the bottom of the panel stronger than the top. Also, higher up in the air, bi facial panels become even more like a sail and most roofs aren’t designed for those kinds of loads.
So basically, a set of solar panels in one of those solar still things would be extremely efficent?
Being off grid I’ve found early morning and late afternoon is my nemesis, so I added 6 panels to the east and 6 to the west. With 18 I already had facing south. This was a huge benefit, that extra early morning power when you are on fumes made a big difference and the west panels kept the pack full all the way to sunset even running loads. Giving me basically 4 extra hours of useable sun. Not high output, but badly needed output at the right moment. Which helps me use a smaller battery pack to get me through
Sounds like you determined it was cheaper to add more E/W panels than to increase the size of your battery?
@@ProjectsWithDave It’s a balancing act. Once I added the panels for critical timing, I was able to only need 4 48v rack batteries instead of 6. Was able to then use the other 2 rack batteries to build a system for my RV which I can just connect to in the event of a short fall in the home system.
I had done a similar setup but mine is more like a half circle, but that was before and later I upgrades to solar tracking mounts. Just automatic left to right for daily tracking with a manual up and down for different angles during the year I need to just like 4 times a year.
@@ProjectsWithDave kinda more like, why am I running on battery 3 hours after sunrise and 3-4 hours before sunset, at 20-30 cents per watt that last for 30 years solar panels are way the wise investment compared to batteries that may last 10 years or less.
@@SSingh-nr8qz u shape is ideal really, straight line panels are for grid tie tidy setups, a true off grid setup will have panels everywhere to catch sun whenever it can so long as space permits.
I’ve been doing this for a few years already with my standard panels as well as the first bifacials, but it’s much more consistent to use opaque white instead of something super reflective/specular like the Mylar that you used. The opaque white gathers and spreads more evenly across the entire array plus you won’t add any additional reflective heat from the super reflective surface as well as hot spots that can develop from the Mylar not being totally flat where the white reflection also spreads to wider angles.
I wanted to start with the most reflective surface possible as a benchmark. Now I will have to try some more dispersive options.
Yep, testing this theory since 2012 then built a bifacial testbed in 2022 to record the changes. White is best
@Chief351L comment was removed? Idk. Chief you may want to see the CS website? Been at this for many years and live energy test, compare.
Makes a lot of sense since mylar not only reflects visible light but also a good portion and amount of IR (and maybe some of some other spectrum like some UV?) whereas opaque white will mostly just reflect the visible light, and as you said, more diffusely so (less concentrated hot spots).
Good tip.
I was thinking orca reflective film - it's used by hydroponic guys 😊 - it's white rather than mirror like but 90 - 95% reflective and tougher than standard myler.
Try orca reflective film. It's white in colour but is @90-95% reflective. It is also slightly tougher than standard mylar.
It is used by people who grow hydroponic indoors.😊 They tend to want something that is highly reflective and tough.
I agree. The film comes in 52" wide, 100' long. 2 or 3 rows (104" or 156"**) should create a lot of reflected light, and being diffused light, the film can be laid at just enough of an angle to drain water. No shading the the bottom in the early morning. Also extend it beyond the film 3 or 4 feet to the north and south.
** When the weather is predicted to be nice 3 days in a row (I'm in San Diego - so I may be asking the impossible) Lay down one row of film, then measure the daily output. Second day, the second row, third day, third row to see where diminishing returns occur. I would expect 3 rows will improve early morning production most, but significantly improve noon as well.
I'm sure it pays itself off on the "vegetable" production
White acrylic paint is also a good simple solution with similar results.
Basically what I came to the comments to say. A flat piece of wood coated in reflective white paint would be great.
The Action Lab youtube channel has several videos using White 2.0, which is claimed to be the world's brightest white paint. However, I don't think that's necessary. I expect any brilliant white paint should work well, and it's better to minimize cost than eke out a few percent improvement in light reflection.
My main concern is degradation in sunlight. Mylar apparently breaks down in UV, so it's not a good long-term product. Whatever film, coating, or paint that's used should be durable and naturally stay clean.
I’m not an engineer but a small vertical gap between the posts and a horizontal gap between the panels would lower the probability of wind damage without significantly adding to the size of the array. I really like the consideration that a reduction in peak exposure would lengthen the useful life of the panel as well. Thanks for sharing your research.
The lengthened useful life is actually because this orientation is more effective at keeping the solar panels cool, since air is able to flow up both sides.
I think the small cracks will add a vacuum to areas as wind blows over to hard. Could cause it to rip upward with the wind.
I think you are right about the vertical gap. If you are using these panels for a privacy fence you might offset a standard wood panel or post behind or in front of that gap to allow wind to flow around and through it while still blocking the view.
@@ernieblue5307 You have a good point. When I drive by privacy fences at the right speed I can see everything behind it.
"holes" in fencing to mitigate wind pressure tend not to work as desired until you reach something approaching 50% gap space, like snow-drift fencing.
If the gaps are not large, it can actually increase the effect of wind because of the vortices which come into play. A completely gap-free fence has the benefit of building up a bubble of high-pressure air in front of it, which is actually 'vaguely' aerodynamic. Alleviating that pressure pocket can in effect make that pressure bubble more flattened/blunt in shape...
If you're really worried about wind, then some snow-drift fencing off to the sides could help reduce the wind speed that hits the solar panel. (would block some rays right at dawn and dusk though). Also orienting the panels so they are less tall (but a longer wall of them) would be dramatically more wind resistant. Would make the needed size of reflector material much narrower too.
Thanks for all of your hard work! I know that time, real effort, and a love of knowledge are behind your videos… I can feel it! Thank you and know that you are informing people and helping them to enrich their own lives. You are a true American.
Thank You! I appreciate that!
Nice
A cheap alternative for keeping birds off your panels is fishing string. I attached a couple of rods on the top of each end of the panels, and ran fishing string a few inches above the span of the panels (similar to barbed wire above a fence). Tie some small strips of fabric to the string every few feet and it gives a visual deterramce in the breeze. Havent had a single bird land in a couple years, and when the string goes bad, ill simply replace it.
Another unique idea... Thanks
Silicone or tar roofing nails upside down
I saw another person using mirrors on a Bifacial similar to this and he found as he pulled the mirror back about 3-4 feet away it put the most light onto the solar panel, he gained about 60 watts on the Bifacial side. The negative with extreme reflected light is the solar panel got very hot 150+F .
You're absolutely correct that nobody talks about how easily you cook your panel. I use water from a stream that's pipe down a hill that cools my solar array that I'm currently playing with. The reflected light from the mirrored surfaces have completely fried panels.
I think that this had a lot to do with the Mirrors reflecting the IR light (HEAT!) as well. Somnething like the "Orca Film" described by other commentors might be the trick, as it was designed to only reflect the visible spectrum, and in a very diffuse manner, at that.
I have some ARCO panels from the 70's or early 80's which were burned by reflectors. The white surfaces seem the safest way to go
And as your module temperature goes up, electrical power output goes down. Also accelerates degradation. Definitely things to consider
I have discovered with my bi-facial panels that highly reflective material like the mylar you were using will give you greater gains when used from about 10 feet away from the panels. The ambient light they reflect when very close to the panels like you had them also reflect a lot of heat which will negate many times any gains you get. Move the reflective material away and you will notice a greater gain.
i caught that mistake too👍
I dont even have a house for solar, but the amount of work and detail you put into this video is amazing...watched the entire thing just because your presentation was on point.
Great tests! You mentioned diffuse reflectors may be a better option and I agree. Aluminized foils can fail to reflect 30% or more of the light that hits them, whether it directly absorbs or just passes through the foil. A good ultrawhite paint can be 90%+ reflective, though the diffuse reflection means much of the light will miss your panel. Of course having multiple surrounding panels would help to catch some of it. Simply spraying the ground with chalk may have an impressive temporary effect.
The thing with vertically oriented panels is the heat is better shed than angled panels.
Vertical bifacial panels as fencing bypasses the whole can of worms with roof installation...
One of the big benefits of your East/West facing array is that your Solar panels are producing power when you need/use it most. For example: If you live in the South, you typically have your highest energy demand in the late afternoon when your Air Conditioning is working hardest to overcome the heat of the day. The opposite is true in the North during the Winter months, where people are heating their homes in the early morning hours due to the colder overnight temperatures. Consequently, not only are your vertical panels providing energy when it is needed most, but any Solar panels mounted in an East, or West, direction will more closely match the actual energy usage of a typical home.
As a side note, if you have an Off-Grid Solar system, it would be beneficial to have a few more panels mounted facing East, or vertical, to get your battery bank charged up quicker in the mornings. This would also help get your battery bank charged on cloudy days.
If you live off grid you will need a battery that can last multiple days without significant solar input. In that case South may be your best orientation to maximize your production for the day.
As soom as you have a battery optimization for (winter) overall energy beats everything. South facing panels that are perpendicular to the sun at noon in the winter will be best. The minimal loss of energy in the summer doesn't matter because in summer there is always enough of it.
@@ProjectsWithDave really if you live off grid your battery system should be configured with multiple Inputs like 1 or 2 wind turbines in conjunction with a solar array coupled with a hydroelectric water diversion turbine from you main water source. With diesel or gas generator as backup.....
@@ProjectsWithDave that's the opposite of the path I chose for my system.
We drastically overpanneled our system to have enough to power our modest home on thick cloudy winter days, and dump excess into long-term thermal storage during the rest of the year.
Of course we like to be really cool (60s) so the high panneling helps in summer too.
@@Yuriel1981 Best is still nuclear.
Something not talked about is the fact that you also get a fence.
So you get power when you need it most and a fence.
THIS. Every farm around here has a FENCE. (SW Ontario). How much would a long string of bifacial panels cost and what's the utility if THEY'RE NOT TAKING UP AGRICULTURAL SPACE?
In many areas, solar panels are a great item to STEAL for extra cash. Just bring along a battery powered drill and zipp zipp you've lost your fence and your solar!
@@KWifler
Unless they're dirt cheap chinesium junk
@@KWifler Really? How many Pawn Shops do you know that buy solar panels that a tweaker has broken?
@@KWifler What areas are you talking about? Here in Germany I've never heard of such behavior. It seems like legit für reagions where powersupply is not good and people ened to use diesel generators, which is expansive.
The depth of the engineering work you're doing, and the enthusiasm you display for it, is inspiring not just for me as a fellow mechanical engineer, but also for the next generation! Here's a suggestion for another analysis: We built a 38-panel DIY bifacial grid-tied ground mount. We did some backyard science trying different tilt angles before building it out, and found better performance for surprisingly high tilt angles up to 45deg. We covered the front-side with cardboard one day, and noticed higher output from the back-side component vs. 32deg which is standard in our area (northern Vermont near Canada). We did the same on a snowy day and saw even more. We chickened out on going 45deg, but ended up at about 42deg. The generation has been good for 2 years, and we've noticed way better snow-sliding performance with the higher tilt. After every snow, our panels slide well before many conventional ground mounts in our town. This really helps that bifacial power surge on sunny days after fresh snow. So my suggestion is to build a ground mount test rig with adjustable tilt angle and evaluate bifacial tilt angles (including a low tilt reference) across the seasons. I think you might find the results surprising....we sure did!
Chinese Bifacial Panels 445 Wp cost about 70 USD per panel in Switzerland - Dont get ripped off. 180 USD for a 410 Wp panel is crazy overpriced
Wow, we can't get panels at that price in the US.
@@ProjectsWithDaveButt, how far has One gone to BYPASS the middle-men Re-sellers. ALSO, has much to do with specific country of origin the products come from.
If he wants to to support local manufacturing and lower the prices we need more people supporting them...f the chinesium crap.
In pakistan 580 watt jinko n type bifacial solar panels sells for about 72 usd. And even then we get discounts if we buy in bulk
@@cmbaz1140there's no local manufacturing of solar panels all of them come from China or are repackaged to make them look American. Chinese panels are top of the line, but taxed heavily in Canada and US.
Thanks! Love your videos. We are going to build a new house in the next couple of years. We are in East Liverpool, OH.
Thanks! I appreciate the support. Check out my multi year performance results videos, you are close enough they should be a good comparison for you. Here is a link for a recent update: ua-cam.com/video/YjKPHuc8T38/v-deo.html
Try "A" frames east and west. Angle depends on your location the angle. You could flatten the curve / optimize production and still take up less relesate.
Also, vertical panels are a good solution for areas without southern exposure. I live in the mountains, and my only option is east/west facing panels.
Installed 3 500W vertical bifacial panels in Ontario Canada, used 4’ deck screw anchors and 8020inc strut as the mounts. Winter is coming, will see what the snowless panels will produce.
Note in winter a panel with no snow will out produce a snow covered panel every time.
This. In winter snow climates, snow is the enemy. Often, roof mounted panels get wind drifted snow on them. Wind drifted snow is THICK and DENSE. Winter cloudy days with snow covered panels = zero solar production. Mid latitude Canada, the winter sun angle is about 9 degrees from vertical. Vertical or nearly vertical panels will absolutely maximize snow shedding and therefore solar production during the worst sun months. In summer, a vertical panel facing south will be maxed out anyway, so plan for the winter snow. Stay gold.
"In winter, snow is the enemy."
Unless it's a bifacial vertical panel system, and then it's a reflector.
My principal thought for vertical east/west bifacial panels is that usually a south facing array makes power between (solar) 10am and 2pm and more energy harvest means more current meaning bigger control gear. With an E/W facing panel the energy harvest is not at peak times so a smaller controller could do BOTH jobs.
If that's an issue it just means that you bought too many panels for your inverter. S panels with the proper inverter are still way better
The idea of vertical panels saving land is interesting. In many circumstances it may be worth getting a bit less energy to save the land.
it would be cool to see a power vs land use statisic. How much Power is produced by a specific ammount of landuse for any kind of power production. Maybe it also could also show the landuse including the production factories and mining pits.
Saving land may not be worth it. Most crops require loads of sunlight, that they now won't get as they are shaded by panels. So what crop will you grow now that does not need light? Mushrooms?
@@jonasmadsen8535 well you got a point, but for example Winds erode the surface of the field and can harm the plants. It needs to be looked at. Overhead solar is realy good for potatoes for example, but that is not the vertical one, so lets not Look at this. Vertical pv can be installed on farms with cows or chickens for example
i took it more as panel density but now i realise of course, it matters how you pack them so that they don't sit in each other's shade
i think a series of tests looking at the energy/area output for a full array would be interesting, since it may be easier to pack more solar panels than to find more land
Vertical panels also don’t see as much heating so they should last longer. Crops between rows of vertical panels also shouldn’t be too affected because they still get the mid day sun.
you can simply paint the area where the panels are in matte white - this will give the perfect diffused light
This is what I’m going for my small bifacial solar panel setup. Hoping for good results!
Edit: Why would you recommend matte white over glossy?
@@therookienomore88 Gloss is more "reflective", less "diffusive".
@@Omniverse0 Ok, would the backside of solar panels absorb more diffuse light than reflective?
To solve bird issue instal Bird Spikes on top edge
I was thinking the same thing. The energy cost savings might not ever pay out though, those spike are crazy expensive for what they are.
@@StormGod29got to think about time saving from cleaning it off and potential long term side affects like stains or scrapes from cleaning
If you add height on it, the grid gap also increases on the land because shadow is also expending.
@@StormGod29 Feel like you could just glue a bunch of zip-ties to the top instead of paying for pre-made ones
You can use large print outs of birds of prey (ones that are local to the area you live in) and the birds will stay away. IE- Large owls, hawks, eagles, etc.
Thank you for listing and calling out US made equipment!
Its funny how we come up with all these complicated tracking mounts etc. Then someone is like "Have you tried a mirror?"
😂like idk why i didn't even think of this. I'm getting a portable and I know im gonna put her through her paces..thst unfortunately means she'll be prone to delamination 😢 so i know ill be opting to use morning light and this will definitely help a tonne!
His data showed that mirrors help, but only when compared to other fixed direction panels. They aren't anywhere near as efficient as having a panel aimed right at the sun.
The camera in my cell phone can pick out faces to focus on. So the logic behind using a simple light sensor to determine the direction of the sun and aiming panels at it is a no-brainer. A couple of stepper motors with a gear drive should do all the aiming throughout the day. Heck, you could even add a simple logic chain to determine when to orient them vertically (ie: during snowstorms).
And no one tested fresnel lenses yet !
@@WitheRhino - I think I've seen them tested in past videos. I just don't remember where now.
Why not both? A fancy armature that tilts the panels around noon but sets them back to standing along with the reflectors
For the wind issue consider mounting the panels with an offset pivot. This will allow them to swing and dump the wind pressure. But the offset balance point would return them to vertical when calm.
This can also make the panel horizontal(er) during the day when daytime heating starts creating some wind.
It's a very good idea - I like it. But a consequence will be repeated stressing of the electric cables - and you wouldn't want fatigue failures in those. And (thinking further and to minimise cable movement) the connection points for the cables from one panel to the next will need to be near the pivots. But seems worth a try-out.
@@falfield just put a stress-loop near the pivot... and use your best, highest comductor-count wire there. We've been bending conductors for a lonnnng time.
putting a mirror setup underneath the south facing panels would probably be a great idea, it'll reflect light at the back of the panels and won't have any shadow problems.
But then you have to keep it clean
The fact, that you can put a crop in between, is much more worth than any percentage in the output, if you are in an area where farming is important.
What crops can be planted under those giant mirrors on the ground, that couldn't be planted under the horizontal panels?
Im interested to see more testing with the south facing bifacial panels and attempting to reflect more light to the underside of the array.
I thought the same.
I'd really be curious how white rock would impact it. Thanks for this data!
Thanks for the support! White roc is on my list of things to try.... it's a long list. : )
To deter birds from perching on your solar panels, run strong fishing line, tight, about 2.5 inches above the tops (left to right) of the panels. This way, birds can't get their center of gravity squarely above the panel, making it uncomfortable to perch. This works very well on my balcony railing.
I would think plastic fishing line would keep stretching over time, requiring somewhat frequent tension adjustment.
Has someone tried piano wire or rust resistant fishing leader wire? These too, will stretch over time but it should be a quite a lot longer between tension adjustments. They're also UV proof, not just UV resistant.
I think bronze wire would be too "stretchy"
@@exgenica My fishing line is not actually stretched really tight. But it is the upper strenght stuff, I think 30 to 50 lbs rated monofilament line, thick and clearly visible. It is not eleastic and absolutly won't stretch out.
@@MrBryantdavis Isn't that the SUPER premium line? How well do you think it would hold up against the teeth of Texas gar?
Galvanized steel wire should last decades.
I have used this trick when charging in the snow. The reflection from the snow increases charging rate dramatically.
Awesome testing, love it. Was thinking you were going to get these results after first video. Awesome conclusions drawn in your findings. awesome
I just finished mounting my 460 w bifacial panels in East West vertical position and on partially cloudy day I am showing 500 watts per panel.
This is amazing tech
0:45 mirrors are cheaper than pv cells .. makes me wonder what you could do with magnification
From my limited understanding there's a curve where if you focus too much sun/heat on the panels that it can degrade performance and lifespan. Not sure at what point this becomes an issue though
Concentrated solar
Concentrated solar doesn't use photovoltaics but just generates heat to spin turbines like any other old fashioned energy source. I think it's an option for seriously large scales in desert-like environments, but there are huge efficiency losses in that process and can't really be compared to bifacial solar panels. Unless I'm seriously misunderstanding something which is always a possibility...
Yeah but that's brilliant if you could manufacture a small high output cells capable of taking focused light instead of fields upon fields. It's a good idea.
What about 75* towards south in the winter. To shed the snow.
That's something you don't hear for solar panel installations much: birds and hornet nests.
I like to share the good and the bad. No value in sugar coating things.
Thanks!
Thank you very much!
Now, set up reflection beds underneath the bifacial southfacing 30 degree panels and measure the boost. You can angle them to make the easier to place in a position to give fairly good boost but you may want to set up low side blinders to prevent light waste causing annoying glare for bystanders. A floating solar array on a pond with bifacial panels teathered to be south facing would also be a great experiment.
Came here to suggest this.
I also think reflectors would simply be a boon, period. Especially for those who live in predominantly overcast and morning fog areas, like the Pacific North West/West Coast.
Keep it up! Following with great interest!
bless you sir. Also as an audio professional thank you for wearing earplugs while pounding stakes. Hearing loss is a major contributor to dementia.
Ketosis is found to fight dementia.
I love this video as a solar enthusiast. The vertical design with reflectors takes up a lot of space. I have a smaller backyard facing southward.
If I remeber correctly dave's in dave's solar panels the back solar panel can only produce 60% of what the front can. But I think newer biffacials have better biffaciality at like 80-90% and this will likely put them very very close to angled south facing arrays.
What panel is claiming 80-90%?
@@ProjectsWithDave For example this one
HJT Bifacial Double Glass 680W 690Wp 700Watt Photovoltaic Solar Panel Module
And also I found a paper where they tested a module and it had over 80% bifiaciality.
Evaluation of the bifaciality coefficient of bifacial photovoltaic modules under real operating conditions
If you google search for "bifiaciality 80%" you'll find much more
@@ProjectsWithDave It seems my replies are getting caught in a sppum filter. If you can't see my other reply search for bifaciality 80% and you will get results.
Sharp Energy Solutions Europe Introduces Bifacial N-Type TOPCon
Fresh N type double Glass from main Chinese manufacturers
Very interesting! A parabolic shape, some of that ultra white reflective paint and an elevation gap between the panel and reflector are all possible improvement points.
A gap between the panel and reflector might help manage snow.
I'm very interested in using vertical South facing arrays to double as a privacy fence. A bit less performance is okay since the panels are doing double duty for me.
I've seen interesting setups where greenhouses with reflective covering are used to boost the performance. The solar arrays are placed between greenhouses. And the sides are curved, which helps reflect through more of the solar arc and distribute across the panels versus flat reflective structures.
If the solar panels were hinged in the middle and could be rotated to be horizontal or vertical during the day, perhaps automatically, maximum solar efficiency could be achieved. 😊👍
it's 1-axis solar tracker..
Nice idea. Perhaps the concept could be extended into a Venetian blind structure to optimise collection without increasing the land use. They could be flattened to allow equipment to pass unobstructed as well. The added cost/complexity might have too much impact though. Worth exploring, I think.
You have absolutely earned a sub. You are so articulate and so grammatically perfect. It's so nice to hear somebody actually hold a conversation without using the word um, or saying uh a lot. Very great channel and content. Algorithm sends you videos that you watch my patootie!!! I've never seen a video of yours before.And I watch videos like this all the time. Better late than never!!!!
Superb 👍 You made it 🎉. Also, a tip, make the reflector like a convex mirror by adding a curved plastic sheet under it, this will spread the light over a larger area of the panels and you can increase the distance between the reflector and array to remove the shadow. Also, you can make the reflector with white reflective paint on a curved plastic sheet, this will reduce the cost significantly.
You know that your next step is a reflector system for the back side of your south facing bifacial panels right? Great and informative video!
I know that a smart, smooth, always perfectly oriented sun tracking array is expensive and not financially worth it unless you have very limited space for your setup. So, what I would like to see is a "dumb" 3 position rotating ground mount test where they face at a vertical position east until 10 AM, then rotate in a single step to a south facing 30 deg angel until 4 in the afternoon where they then rotate to a west facing vertical orientation. I don't care if you used a bifacial or conventional array for the three position mobile array test... and I don't expect to see it any time soon... but I am subscribed in hopes of seeing it someday.
Thanks for the sub! I've been thinking about tracking options, but it will be a while before I have anything on the topic.
@@ProjectsWithDave Your content is interesting, so I am not loosing anything by being subscribed before you get around to testing movable panels 👍
@@ProjectsWithDavehave you seen those sun tunnels people put in their homes to bring light in, small but it really brightens a room 🤔 wonder if this could be applied. This is round. The earth is round, just a thought, but can’t help but think trying round, curved, and spherical might be the answer. I am fascinated by how much the reflection increased the energy.
Now I need to get a setup that starts the day off vertical to the 30° and finishes the day off vertical.
Main issue is price of bifocal panel...
On average, they cost 1.5-2 times more - due to marketing costs
while there is still an opportunity to buy a regular panel with a power of 580-620 watts for $120
Where can you buy 600 watts of solar panels for only $120?
We pay 6$ more for bifacial, identical manufacturer and panel. 100->106
@@HenriUA haha - well, yes, but that manufacturer sells everything with a big markup.
all this is an overpayment for the manufacturer’s expenses on marketing.
people are willing to pay a lot for something that is advertised beautifully
Unfortunately, marketing is a modern evil, as is planned obsolescence.
Great solution for many installations. I like the photo of the different scenerios. Anti bird landing wire can be installed on panel tops to prevent the birds unless you want them to land there or give the birds alternate perches.
As for fixing. Simple angle iron. Can even weld on hinges so if it's very windy you can fold them down.
I had to stop watching at 1:00 Holy crap.
You've never done anything worth doing and it shows.
What’s your point ?
This fellow is afraid of a situation that looks like daddy OSHA wouldnt approve of@@ChrisCastro-to5vb
Why? Specifically what made you stop?
Thanks for the video! This is great information. I live in the suburbs of LA, about 20 miles inland, so no marine layer and very, very sunny. I have 36 x 400 watt roof top panels with 18 facing east, 4 facing south and 14 facing west and I make 94 kwh per day at summer solstice, which is 2.6 kwh per panel per day. It’s amazing to think that those vertical panels are making as much as my 30 degree panels are when they only see sun for half of the day and you’re further north, which should mean less total sun.
Interesting... Is that 2.6kWh an average for all 36 panels for the day? Standard E/W panels on a roof are not the best performers. I did some analysis on that in this video: ua-cam.com/video/M-5qcmlMLSg/v-deo.html
I have wondered why no one does this. You could also add reflectors off to the sides and for different heights.
Your experiments are so enlightening thank you.
very detailed👍Seems like I still have a lot to learn💪Looking forward to your next video!
I like the white rock idea. 3' out from panel makes a nice walkway and keeps weeds down, while being a reflector. I live in a desert climate and have done deliveries for a few years, the reflections from a patch of white rocks makes my eyes water.
Thanks for giving us performance numbers! It is somewhat obvious it would improve production.
Now, many warehouse roofs are painted white (and flat), but those should also improve performance over grass.
Good information, thank you. Interested white rock application on both positions. Flat vs. center mounding. Mylar is also easily conforms to different shape. Your right there is a lot of efficiency tuning available. Wish you the best of luck.
Thanks, I'm going to try that in the future.
what a great project. Great video. Thanks. If you put two panels horizontal between and that would probably cancel the dip.
Aim the reflector on the west side of the panels to reflect the light from the east toward the west face. And vice versa for the east side reflector.
Only ~1/3 of the way through the video so far- this is the first video I've seen from your channel, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear you're from Texas! Same with the Signature Solar mention- I've actually been interviewing with their sister company recently.
I live in a valley in the mountains,I made a system with one side on wheels, the other side is on a on a rotating bearing plate in the ground, allowing me to follow the sun, and I do use reflectors, and am able to move the panels to a vertical position..The improvements are off the charts..
As a mechanical engineer, I appreciate the attention to detail for the power output results. Thanks for sharing!
I can't believe this video is 100% free.Thanks man
I can see the bright reflection off the base of the panels from the mirrors
Might I suggest, (im referring specifically to minute 13:00 ), considering you dont need a mirror type surface to reflect the light into the panels, you could potentially take your verticals from the grass area, to maybe somewhere like whats underneath your solar array to the side. very bright colored quartz like rock used for landscaping. has some glassiness, but will create a much brighter environment for the panels. looking forward to seeing your next video
16:20 perfect you thought of it haha
glad to see this!! after your first video, I imagined setting up mirrors EXACTLY like this!! this would also be a good way to capture rain water for off-grid
❤ thanks for the video 👍
I've been using solar panels since the late 80's early 90's when I became a ham operator. There's a lot of good information around on setting up solar. Probably the best one was a four stack, four sided column on Facebook. There were two columns on either side of the property.
The idea (which was accomplished) was a constant wattage year-round. His daily curve flattened out somewhat also.
I personally use a sun tracking system that I built. It tracks east and west but I add the latitude manually with a three foot "slip" section of pipe in the northern support post. The other end of the horizontal axle is mounted on a "gimbal" supported by the house (Short leads, better current 😁).
Thanks again for the video, just stumbled across it looking for "modern" panels ❤
So basically for a home it would be best to have some "normal" south facing panels and some east/west facing vertical bi-directional panels. Depending on the local power contracts you would generate a lot of energy in the middle pf the day with the "cheap panels". Additionally, you would harvest the early and late sun to charge up a battery and/or to just use the sun directly when you consume the most.
Depending on each scenario, maybe something like 60% cheap normal and 40% bifacial vertical panels would be a hood mix. The difficult thing is probably to find the best solution for each home. Most people can't or don't want to place panels vertically in their garden.
This is great! you could make fences out solar panels.
You could use a flat Fresnel mirror so it would not block the morning sun.
Should also include tracker based bifacial module for better comparison
Thanks!
Thank You!
Bifacial south facing 30percent tilt, with a reflector on the flat ground seems like a winning idea that i just thought of...
Right, I think that would outperform the vertical result by a significant margin. For my location I think closer to 40deg tilt would be even better.
Thanks for this data, it's very useful for many people around the globe.
Very cool testing. Yeah, would love to see the reflector test, but with something bright white like plain Tyvek wrap, white EPDM roof material, or white tin roof sheets.
Yes finally someone sees the light of reflective panels! This setup can do so much for so many space uses. I wanted to do this and I'm glad you collected data too! I will need this and would like to use this video to pitch to development of my projects.
So you could mount the fence panels a bit higher so they don.t get shaded by the reflector in the morning.also means you can lower the angle on the reflector.
thank you ..please make a test by adding ons side miror one test say you get more power
Thank you for this video! I am a panel installer in France. Very nice presentation!
Glad it was helpful!
Bedankt
Thank you very much!
You also mentioned that your reflector did not extend the out beyond the panel, which I’ve experimented with as well and is really significant
I'd be interested to see about installing a reflective layer on the underside of the 30 degree bifacials. Depending on direction of snowfall they could also possibly double as a heating element to melt snow on the panels if they reflect enough.
This makes me wonder if there's some kind of prism we could put on top of the cells, like the light collector on a skylight tube, that will effectively pull in sunlight no matter the angle
I'm at 49° north so I'm adding vertical arrays and adding reflectors during spring through fall. We do generally get snow on the ground from Dec to March
Really liking your content. I just picked up some bifacial panels with a tracking mount. I’m working on some reflecting for them too.
Wow that was the best test and explanation I have seen. Looking forward to seeing the N/S test.
You could try gluing the mylar to something stiff like a framed plywood to get a better mirror.
Great to get solid data rather than assumption and hearsay, keep it up.
One variable to consider is power produced vs. power needs throughout the day, winter vs. summer, with storage and without, etc. This is great data collection and design for experiment.
when you install the north south vertical array you may want to also in stall an offset array from east west by dealers choice degrees
reflectors: white washed flat panels or white siding should give enough reflection and lower the angle by half
This experiment is awesome! Great work sir
Solar panels in place of the bottom reflectors. I'm not sure, but the angle could reflect some light onto the vertical panels and also fill your midday slump. But they'd probably also heat up.
My property has a 360 degree view sunrise to sunset. I had 4 facing east at an angle and 4 facing west. Later I made a mount that flipped over at noon.
Im homeless the sun keeps my phone alive where nothing else grows.Thanks for an exelent vid.BLESSINGS
Great experiment! Like anything, you have to install based on your needs. The "ultimate" solution is to have several smaller arrays at optimized angles through the entire sun arc targeting when you need power.
Great Video! I would also use reflector on the ground under the south looking panels! And: Yes, Orca has the most diffuse surface!