Comment on Will solar panels overrun farmland? The two are more likely to coexist.
benjhm@sopuli.xyz 1 week ago
I saw somewhere a neat idea to align the panels vertically along N-S axis, two sided facing both E and W to catch morning and evening sun at low angles. This helps to top up the grid at periods of higher demand and lower supply, while leaving a wide open strip in the middle for growing normal crops, benefiting from the midday sun (a time when we already have plenty of electricity).
Indeed, vertical solar panels are fully compatible with farming. :) And it’s also smart to position them north-south, to get on the market on morning and evening hours - because midday is already “crowded” by conventional solar parks.
Also, vertical panels are more resistant to hail.
mosiacmango@lemm.ee 1 week ago
These are called “bi-facial” solar panels and you can buy them now. They have panels on both sides, and are commonly used in solar fencing.
Even though you place them vertically, they often are counterintuitively more efficient than normal panels that are angled into the sun. Not only do the two sides let sunlight bounce in from more surfaces, they dont get nearly as hot as angled panels, which is one of the main reasons solar panels get less efficient while in use. Normal panels literally have a problem with being in too much sunlight.
You don’t normally get 2x the power out of bifacial panels, but you get something like 1.3x, and it tends to be more consistent.
ikidd@lemmy.world 1 week ago
They’re not more efficient than south facing bifacials put at the correct azimuth for the season, but they will spike at what is usually the high demand periods. Additionally, they’re less likely to collect snow.
Source: I run 50+ bifacials and use both mount styles, so I have about a year of experience in watching them.
The “Projects with everyday Dave” has a bunch of videos on the difference that’s way more scientific than my back of the envelope calcs.
JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
I heard from a solar installer a while ago that most of their panels on northern areas are bi-facial, since they get noticable efficiency improvements from light reflected off the snow.