pv magazine test: February 2021 Results
By George Touloupas
This article was originally published in pv magazine – April 2021 edition. Learn more about the pv magazine test here.
pv magazine test involves a range of indoor tests, as well as an outdoor performance test in Gsolar’s test facility in Xi’an, China. Some of these tests are standard in the industry, while others are innovative and provide data on important module quality and performance issues.
February 2021 Test Results Explained
Figure 1 below charts the meteo station data (irradiance and ambient temperature) for February 2021. The testing facility experienced a power cut from February 9th to the 18th. No new products were added to the outdoor test, and the installed samples are the same as last month.
Daily Temperature and Irradiance Data
Figure 1: Daily meteo station data - February 2021
Energy Yield Ranking
Table 1: Energy yield ranking - February 2021
Total Energy Yield
Figure 2: Total energy yield - February 2021
The average bifacial boost is 4.4% for February 2021. Bifacial boost is defined as the extra energy yield of the bifacial products compared to the average energy yield of all mono-facial mono PERC products.
Bifacial Boost
Table 2: Bifacial boost - February 2021
Figure 3 shows the comparison between different PV module technologies for February 2021. Bifacial modules are steadily performing above all the other technologies, with monofacial mono-crystalline PERC modules having the lowest yield.
Relative Yield of Different Technologies
Figure 3: Relative yield of different technologies – February 2021
Notes on Energy Yield Measurements
The energy yield comparison among various technologies, including bifacial boost, will be analyzed using products installed after the beginning of 2019.
The energy yield is given in Wh/Wp and calculated by dividing the energy produced by the module by the Pmax at STC of the module. This Pmax is the maximum STC power after a process of stabilization.
The results are grouped in categories, per module type.
The bifacial boost depends on many parameters: the bifaciality factor, the installation geometry, the albedo of the ground, and the sun angle and diffuse irradiance. The ground in this case is grey gravel.
George Touloupas is CEA’s Director, Technology and Quality
Test Cooperation
pv magazine test is a cooperative effort involving pv magazine, CEA, and Gsolar. All testing procedures are carried out at Gsolar’s test laboratory in Xi’an, China. CEA supervises these tests and designed both the indoor and outdoor testing procedures.