Performance Comparison of Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, Low Concentrated, and Bifacial PV Modules in a Particular Geographic Location of South India

ABSTRACT This study presents a performance comparison of four commercially available photovoltaic (PV) modules: polycrystalline PV module (PPVM), monocrystalline PV module (MPVM), low‐concentrated PV module (LPVM), and bifacial PV module (BPVM). The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of irradiation and temperature on PV modules in the same geographic location. The study results showed that the module's performance exhibits strong dependence on irradiation and temperature. The module's operating temperature has a significant impact on the efficiency. The performance ratio and module efficiency show an increasing trend with increasing irradiation. The P.U. power of BPVM was 4% more than that of PPVM and LPVM and 11% more than MPVM. At both low and high irradiation levels, the BPVM module showed better efficiency. At the highest irradiation, the module efficiency of BPVM was 51.2% higher than that of PPVM and 64% higher than that of LPVM and MPVM. The performance ratio of BPVM is 3% higher than PPVM, 7% higher than LPVM, and 11% higher than MPVM. Compared with PPVM, MPVM, and LPVM, the BPVM has improved P.U. power, module efficiency (22.79%), and performance ratio by 64%, 60%, and 70%, respectively. The experimental results show that selecting an optimal PV module for a given location enhances its efficiency.