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Natural vs. Man-Made Reflective Surfaces for Bifacial Solar Panels

The Solar Lab Plus

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00:58 - Understanding Bi-Facial Panels
2:59 - Baseline test
3:45 - Different Surfaces
7:42 - Day 2 Surfaces
9:34 - The Math
10:54 - Understand the Limitations
11:50 - Should You Care ?

How much does the surface underneath a bifacial solar panel actually affect its power output? We tested a 415W bifacial solar panel on grass, asphalt, wood chips, concrete, sand, water, and reflective materials to find out which surfaces produce the most solar power. Our testing showed that grass and concrete performed surprisingly similarly, while water actually performed worse when the panel was close to the surface. The biggest gains came from highly reflective materials, with a chrome emergency blanket and white sheet producing significantly more power. But does it actually make sense to change where you install your solar panels? We break down the results, explain how bifacial solar panels use reflected light, and show when the surface underneath your panels really matters.

We maintain an affiliate relationship with some of the products reviewed, which means we get a small percentage of a sale if you click our links, at no cost to our viewers.

20 Comments

@TheSolarLabPlus Creator 4 days ago (edited) Pinned

Bifacial and Monofacial Solar Panels We Recommend

🛒 Bifacial Solar Panels at Signature Solar ➡ https://signaturesolar.com/all-products/solar-panels/?ref=thesolarlab
➡ Get $50 Off with Discount Code THESOLARLAB50

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🛒 Renogy 200W Portable Solar Panel ➡ https://amzn.to/3Tkfxiz
🛒 ECO-WORTHY Ultra Slim 2PCS 100W Solar Panel ➡ https://amzn.to/4yCjIXd
🛒 ACOPOWER 100W Portable Solar Panel Kit ➡ https://amzn.to/4yF60mn
🔌 https://youtu.be/XJRwv740e8Q

🛒 IntegraRack IR-30 Ground Mount ➡ https://signaturesolar.com/integrarack-ir-30-ballastrack-solar-module-rack-1-frame/?ref=thesolarlab
➡ $50 Off with Code THESOLARLAB50

🛒 Solar Wattage Reader on Amazon ➡ https://amzn.to/47vYYUu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⚡ Find Your Perfect Power Station: https://www.thesolarlab.com/ps-quiz

🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube Channels
➡ https://www.youtube.com/@TheSolarLab
➡ https://www.youtube.com/@TheSolarLabPlus

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➡ https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSolarLab/

Shop Our Favorite Brands & Discount Codes ↓↓↓

🛒 Products We Recommend on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/tsl047

🛒 Signature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=thesolarlab
➡ $50 Off With Code THESOLARLAB50

🛒 Pecron: https://www.pecron.com/#ref=229
➡ 5% Off with Code THESOLARLAB5

🛒 EcoFlow: https://us.ecoflow.com/?aff=925
➡ 5% Off with Code EF26TSL5

🛒 BLUETTI: https://www.bluettipower.com?aff=22
➡ 5% Off with Code THESOLARLAB5

🛒 ANKER SOLIX: https://ankerfast.club/anker.solix_tsl
➡ 5% Off with Code THESOLARLAB5

🛒 Eco-Worthy: https://tidd.ly/4y5ojQn
➡ $20 Off with Code THESOLARLAB

🛒 Jackery: https://www.jackery.com/?utm_source=affiliatly&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=affiliatelyus&aff=2419
➡ 5% Off with Code JASOLARLAB

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➡ 6% Off with Code THESOLARLAB

🛒 OUPES: https://tidd.ly/3KFFyo4
➡5% Off with Code THESOLARLAB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⚡ Read Our Full Written Review: https://www.thesolarlab.com/reviews

🔌 Access In-Depth Reviews, Guides & More: https://www.thesolarlab.com/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

00:58 - Understanding Bi-Facial Panels
2:59 - Baseline test
3:45 - Different Surfaces
7:42 - Day 2 Surfaces
9:34 - The Math
10:54 - Understand the Limitations
11:50 - Should You Care ?

How much does the surface underneath a bifacial solar panel actually affect its power output? We tested a 415W bifacial solar panel on grass, asphalt, wood chips, concrete, sand, water, and reflective materials to find out which surfaces produce the most solar power. Our testing showed that grass and concrete performed surprisingly similarly, while water actually performed worse when the panel was close to the surface. The biggest gains came from highly reflective materials, with a chrome emergency blanket and white sheet producing significantly more power. But does it actually make sense to change where you install your solar panels? We break down the results, explain how bifacial solar panels use reflected light, and show when the surface underneath your panels really matters.

We maintain an affiliate relationship with some of the products reviewed, which means we get a small percentage of a sale if you click our links, at no cost to our viewers.

@DatGuy1971 4 days ago

This is the first time in my 55 years on this planet I've ever heard someone pronounce asphalt as (ash)phalt.

@joshuaewalker 4 days ago

"ash"phalt killed me. My ears will never be the same

@RedBearAK 4 days ago

The missing test variant is turning the panel nearly sideways to the sun to simulate morning/evening sun angles. It’s less relevant for a large array with no space between them, but when a panel isn’t directly blocking the sunlight from shining on the surface under the panel, the percentage of energy gained from the back side should increase and be a significant enhancement of what the panel can produce when it can’t be directly facing the sun. This is especially relevant for flat vehicle mounted panels.

@swilson42 4 days ago

One big variable you didn’t control for was exactly what part of the ground surface is being reflected up. Logically, you focused on only the area directly under the panel, but when you out things like the sheet on the ground, there was more white area exposed than when there was a silver blanket area. I’d like to see a test where you out a black tarp down and put a white sheet strictly under the panel, then extend around the panel left and right, then extend out front and back.

There might be some interesting results. There could be an appreciable increase in output by simply adding white paver stones in a stripe in front of the bottom edge of the panels for example. Or a stripe behind them. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bulk of the reflected energy is coming from that small patch of sunlight sneaking under the front edge, versus the rest of the area in shadow. Worth a test!

@yohannonhadden10 4 days ago

This is surreal; I was pondering what Mylar would do with bifacial solar panels last night, and this popped on my feed today. While that kind of surface is likely overkill for larger arrays, I can imagine boosting a small plug-in solar installation (CA just legalized 1200 watt systems) with a few well placed sheets. Thank you!!

@JWTX 4 days ago

I believe that the panel itself is shading the backside. Would be better to have something further back with reflecting surface directed towards backside of panel..... Jeff

@reldegartGi 4 days ago

Not only what's under the panel, but also what's around the panel matters. If there are white walls around the panel, those walls would also reflect light. You can check it easily with a Lux meter.

@Gam3Junkie7 4 days ago

That cardboard example was genius. A nearly 5% difference in performance! That may not seem like a lot to most people, but that is a LOT!

@talpolano4549 4 days ago

You should also test by reversing it. The back panel is facing the sun

@CheapHomeTech 4 days ago

Everyday Dave has done some good research on this too.

@snikelfritz3955 3 days ago

Thank you for doing this test.

@runninblue9415 3 days ago

Really interesting and helpful thank you 👍

@Viperjjr 3 days ago

Good video, with great info. Thanks

@skank2dis1 4 days ago

Awesome job!! That’s a really good video

@ltdlawnservice4586 4 days ago

I would venture to say that the bi facial gain on a south facing array, comes in the morning and evening hours where it’s more likely to catch more direct sunlight

@l1qu1dm3t4lIV 3 days ago (edited)

I have a plug in solar system in my backyard, since we just rent I am building a little 'sled' for my racks.
I also planned on adding some mylar blankets to the top of the sled, under the panels. Which should give me a nice little boost while staying mobile..