Numerical Analysis of Bifacial Photovoltaic Systems Under Different Snow Climatic Conditions

The reflective property (albedo) of the ground plays an important role in the performance of bifacial photovoltaic modules. Snow, as a natural light-colored surface, reflects most of the light that falls on it. However, snow does not have a fixed albedo value. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the high albedo provided by snow in bifacial panels, which are becoming increasingly common. The albedo value of snow is influenced by numerous factors, including the precipitation characteristics of the snow, its depth, and the time since the previous snowfall. This study aims to investigate the impact of snow cover and the number of days with snow cover on the energy production of bifacial panels. An innovative dynamic albedo model integrating the snow type, depth, and duration was developed to advance bifacial PV system performance analysis under various snow and climate scenarios. PVsyst simulations were conducted to analyze the annual energy yield of bifacial photovoltaic panels in Erzurum Province under various snow conditions and accumulation levels. Furthermore, the variation in the number of days with snow cover according to different climatic regions and its effect on the energy production were evaluated for seven different provinces located in seven different regions of Turkey.