Differences between advanced and conventional models in bifacial yield simulations

This is an extended version of the presentation given by Dr Keith McIntosh (PV Lighthouse) at the 2023 PVPMC workshop. It quantifies the difference between advanced and conventional models (such as those used in PVSyst, SAM and PVLib) for 8 physical mechanisms:

• spectral albedo (spectrally dependent versus constant),
• cell to cell mismatch (constant loss factor versus calculated),
• solar position (PVSyst versus Reda-Adreas),
• Perez implementation (PVSyst versus SunSolve),
• module optics (IAM versus complex optics solved with ray tracing),
• thermal (Faiman versus PVL),
• solar spectrum (calculated versus fixed),
• system optics (ray tracing versus view factor)

The differences are quantified for three types of systems all located in Utah:

• single axis tracker,
• fixed tilt,
• waves