Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Kingston, Ontario Solar Labs at SEARC where a team of researchers, students and Silfab engineers will be investigating the energy capturing and thermal properties of this new double-sided panel. This research project will evaluate the panels ability to produce energy while generating heat from its rear side (typically ground-facing side), which should increase snowmelting/ shedding on sunny winter days through increasing thermal activity. As a result of these increased thermal properties, the team also anticipates that the bifacial panel will increase the energy production potential during winter months in comparison to traditional monofacial (one-sided) solar PV modules. This is critical in an environment like Canada where solar energy winter production loses can be upwards of 20% of the expected annual project energy yields.