LiDAR Meets Modelling: Collaborative Insights from a Round-Robin of Vertical Bifacial PV Simulations

Vertical bifacial photovoltaic (PV) systems have emerged as a promising solution for maximizing land use efficiency while achieving high energy yields. This study investigates the modeling and simulation of a vertical bifacial PV plant located in southeastern France, utilizing advanced drone-based LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) data for detailed environmental characterization. In a collaborative effort, in the context of H2020 SERENDIPV project, four partners – CEA, Cythelia, Lucisun, and Solargis – applied their unique PV modeling tools to assess the plant’s energy yield, shading losses, and diffuse irradiance contributions. The study focused on comparing methodologies in a round-robin framework, analyzing results from an common PV monitoring dataset. Key findings highlight the critical impact of accurate terrain and shading modeling on simulation reliability. This paper presents selected results, including shading loss analysis, module-level energy yield comparisons, and key performance indicators (KPIs), emphasizing the significance of LiDAR-enhanced modeling.