A Complete Guide on Bifacial Solar Panels

As the name indicates, bifacial solar panels can capture sunlight from both front and rear surfaces. This dual operation drastically increases their efficiency rate compared with modules like monocrystalline and polycrystalline, which can collect sunlight only from the front.

Interestingly, even bifacial solar panels have different types, and their prices vary accordingly. One of the most popular types of bifacial solar panels is the MonoPERC half-cut bifacial module. And, the bifacial solar panel price in India for a MonoPERC technology half-cut module is ∼ Rs. 24 per watt.

Want to learn more interesting details about bifacial solar panels in India? This blog is a goldmine of answers for you. We’ll walk you through the working of a bifacial solar panel, its types and advantages, price details, and much more. Dive in!

What Are Bifacial Cells and Bifacial Solar Panels?

Solar cells are the building blocks of solar panels. Several materials are used to manufacture solar cells, but silicon is the most frequently used material.

Bifacial solar cells are also made of silicon. Putting it simply, a bifacial solar cell is nothing but two silicon cells stacked together in such a way that they face in opposite directions.

So, what are bifacial solar panels?

➡️ When many bifacial cells are stacked together, the resulting structure is a bifacial solar panel. Both sides of bifacial panels generate electricity since solar cells are present on both sides.

There are two principle ways to classify bifacial solar panels:

Based on physical construction (glass-glass or glass-backsheet)
Based on bifacial solar panel technology/ internal cell architecture (PERC, PERL, or PERT)

Bifacial Solar Panel vs Monofacial Solar Panel

Technology is and has always been the key to advancement and betterment – solar panels are no different. There’s always a new version that makes the older one obsolete.

Let’s walk you through the differences between both the types:

Aspect	Monofacial Solar Panels with Polycrystalline cells	Monofacial Solar Panels with monocrystalline cells	Bifacial panels
Definition	Monofacial panels generate electricity only from their front surface, leaving the rear inactive. They use Polycrystalline cells, made by casting molten silicon into molds.	These panels also transform sunlight into electricity on the front side. They use Monocrystalline cells that are sliced from a single, high-purity silicon ingot.	Bifacial solar panels have solar cells on both front and rear ends, capturing direct irradiance on the front and reflected or diffused light on the back.
Sunlight Collection	Just the front side collects sunlight	Just the front side collects sunlight	Both, the front and back sides collect sunlight
Efficiency	The efficiency ranges between 16-17%.	The efficiency ranges between 19-20%.	The efficiency shoots up to 22%.

*Please note: The monofacial and bifacial solar panels price details listed above are indicative. The cost keeps fluctuating based on many factors including the type of panel technology you choose.

How Do Bifacial Solar Panels Work?

Bifacial solar modules work by converting sunlight on both faces into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells.

On the front side: Photons from the sunlight strike the silicon cells through the transparent glass or polymer, knocking electrons loose. Those loose electrons flow as an electric current (exactly how the process happens with a monofacial solar panel).
On the rear side: This rear side is designed to absorb reflected or diffused light. Diffused or reflected sunlight bounces off reflective surfaces like ground, sand, or snow and falls onto the panel’s underside (rear-end). At this underside, a second layer of bifacial cells converts diffused sunlight into electricity.

Naturally, bifacial solar panels efficiency rate is higher than monofacial panels since it converts more sunlight to electricity. This systematic working might give the impression that bifacial solar panels give double the output of monofacial panels. But that’s not the case.

➡️ The output that’s generated by a bifacial panel is 4-5% higher than that of one-sided (traditional) panels.

Now, let’s check out the different types of bifacial solar panels.

What Are the Types of Bifacial Solar Panels?

Did you know? Higher reflectivity is key when it comes to how well bifacial solar panels perform. For instance, snow on the roof surface will increase the efficiency of bifacial panels as snow is extremely reflective.

As you know by now, bifacial solar panels can be classified under two major categories: based on physical construction and internal cell architecture. Let’s understand all the types in detail.

Bifacial Solar Panels Based on Construction

Here are the three variations based on construction:

Glass-glass bifacial modules: These panels sandwich solar cells between two layers of tempered glass on both the front and rear, enhancing mechanical strength and weather resistance. The dual-glass design also maximizes light transmission to both sides. It makes these modules slightly more efficient and longer-lasting than the glass-backsheet type.
Glass-backsheet bifacial modules: Here, the front side is tempered glass, and the back side uses a transparent polymer backsheet. This configuration is lighter and often framed, but marginally reduced durability and efficiency compared to the glass-glass variants.
Hybrid Designs: Some bifacial solar panel manufacturers offer hybrid bifacial panels combining glass on the front and a polymer backsheet. These aim to balance the durability of glass-glass with the weight and cost advantages of glass-backsheet construction.

Bifacial Solar Panels Based on Internal Cell Architecture/ Technology

Bifacial panels can have multiple cell architectures. Here are the classifications:

PERC (Passivated Emitted and Rear Cell): A rear-side passivation layer increases light capture and reduces recombination, delivering efficiency up to ∼ 22-22.5%.
PERL (Passivated Emitted Rear Locally-diffused): Similar to PERC but with locally diffused rear contacts, achieving ∼ 25% efficiency.
PERT (Passivated Emitted Rear Totally-diffused): Rear surface fully diffused for passivation, yielding ∼ 23% efficiency.
HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer): Combines crystalline silicon with amorphous silicon thin films, offering low temperature coefficients, and efficiency of 23%.

So, you see? The bifacial solar panels efficiency rate also depends upon the technology used to make the panel!

Bifacial Solar Panels Price List in India

The prices of bifacial solar panels vary. They depend upon factors like the type of panel you choose. For demonstration purposes, here’s a tabulated snapshot of the bifacial solar panel prices for a MonoPERC half-cut module.

Solar Panel Size	*MonoPERC Half-cut Bifacial DCR Solar Panel Price Per Watt – OEM**	*Total Estimated MonoPERC Half-cut Bifacial DCR Solar Panel Price – OEM**
2,000 watts	∼ Rs. 24	∼ Rs. 48,000
3,000 watts	∼ Rs. 24	∼ Rs. 72,000
4,000 watts	∼ Rs. 24	∼ Rs. 96,000
5,000 watts	∼ Rs. 24	∼ Rs. 1,20,000
10,000 watts	∼ Rs. 24	∼ Rs. 2,40,000

*Please note: The aforementioned bifacial solar panels price list is for DCR modules, and the rates can vary from city to city, too. Also, these prices are just the panel prices from OEM. The actual cost of a complete solar installation is different. These rates should not be confused with the total solar system installation cost in India.

Wondering, how much would it cost to install an entire solar system, not just the panel cost? Here are some informative reads you might like:

Can You Get a Subsidy on Solar Systems With Bifacial Panels?

Absolutely. You will get it if you meet the eligibility criteria for a subsidy in India. Here are the eligibility conditions:

You own a home with a suitable, shadow-free rooftop
Your solar panels are Made-in-India DCR Modules
You have a valid electricity connection in your name
You are an Indian citizen
You have never availed of a solar subsidy for up to 3 kWp systems before on the same connection

If you meet this criteria, you’ll be eligible for a subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Here are the details:

Solar System Size	Solar Subsidy Offered Under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
1 kWp	Rs. 30,000
2 kWp	Rs. 60,000
3 kWp and higher	Rs. 78,000

Please note: The subsidy is capped at Rs. 78,000 for on-grid rooftop solar systems that are 3 kWp or higher.

Who Makes the Best Bifacial Solar Panels in India?

If you’re looking to buy bifacial solar panels, you must ensure that you buy from premium brands only. Premium brands offer better quality and warranty. Here are some of the best bifacial solar panel manufacturers you can count on:

Navitas
Premier Energies
Renew

Bifacial Solar Panel Advantages

An eager mind always wants more specifics before making a decision. Hence, we’ve curated this section on the benefits of bifacial solar panels. Here’s why installing them is a wise decision:

They have better efficiency
They perform better when the weather is cloudy or there’s snow
They are apt sources to trap sunlight and produce clean electricity
They have a better ROI since they produce more electricity than monofacial panels

Conclusion

A bifacial solar panel has an efficiency of up to 22%. For some advanced models like the PERC half-cut modules, the bifacial solar panels efficiency rate shoots up to 22.5%. Since these panels have a much higher efficiency than monofacial panels, they are a great investment for residential installations.

Moreover, the Indian government also offers a solar subsidy to homeowners installing on-grid rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. So, why delay installing solar? Book a free solar consultation with SolarSquare now. Let us handle the nitty-gritty of going solar while you settle back to enjoy free electricity for the next 25 years of your life.RenewSys Solar, Premier Energies, and Adani Solar are some of the most trusted bifacial solar panel manufacturers in India.

FAQs

Q1. What are frameless bifacial solar panels?

Ans. Frameless bifacial solar panels are modules designed without traditional aluminium frame around their edges. Instead, the glass layers are sealed directly, giving the panel a sleek look.

Q2. Which is the best bifacial solar panel manufacturer in India?

Ans. RenewSys Solar, Premier Energies, and Adani Solar are some of the most trusted bifacial solar panel manufacturers in India.

Q3. Is a bifacial solar panel better?

Ans. Absolutely. A bifacial solar panel offers improved efficiency compared to monofacial panels. While it is a tad more expensive than monofacial panels, the investment is absolutely worth it.

Q4. What is the disadvantage of a bifacial solar panel?

Ans. Bifacial solar panels cost more than monofacial solar panels. However, it’s not truly a disadvantage because you get an improved efficiency with bifacial panels. Since they produce more electricity, the ROI is also better, and the cost breaks even in 3-5 years.

Q5. Can you use bifacial solar panels on the roof?

Ans. Yes. Bifacial solar panels are very popular amongst homeowners installing on-grid rooftop solar systems. The only consideration would be that the surface of the rooftop should be reflective so your panels can work at their maximum capacity.