Bifacial PV modules and floating PV systems are two fast-growing technologies in the photovoltaic sector. Bifacial PV modules make use of the irradiance that is incident on both faces of the module, leading to higher energy yields. Several techniques are used in order to enhance this bifaciality effect, one of them being the use of reflectors. On the other hand, floating PV systems offer multiple advantages with respect to conventional in-land PV systems such as land saving (a big issue for vastly populated areas), higher efficiencies and lower water evaporation rates. The advantages that these technologies provide as well as the big market opportunities that they offer, make them very attractive for new investors.
The uncertainties related to floating PV and bifacial modules are higher compared to conventional power plants. In order to minimize these uncertainties, accurate modelling tools are essential. The most widespread software suites such as PVSyst or System Advisor Model, offer limited flexibility to the user. Therefore, the user is not able to adapt the simulation to very specific cases such as the addition of reflectors to the system. Additionally, they perform simulations only at module level, without performing an analysis at cell level.
Aiming to fill this gap, a Toolbox that is able to model and simulate the annual energy yield of a PV module, considering the physical effects from cell to module level, was developed by the Pho- tovoltaic Devices and Materials group of TU Delft. This Toolbox allows the integration of the work done by different members of the group and it offers great simulation flexibility to the user. The goal of this thesis is to continue the work carried out by former PVMD members and create a new and improved version of the Toolbox.
During this thesis project, several improvements were carried out in the optical models of the Tool- box. Multiple mistakes were discovered and corrected, and new features that improve the Toolbox were added, making it suitable for its use in real projects. Besides that, the thermal part has been improved by adding the option to utilize a thermal model developed in COMSOL Multiphysics that allows to study the temperature distribution in a bifacial PV module. Finally, the Toolbox was ap- plied to the INNOZOWA project, where several simulations were carried out to find the ideal design of a floating PV plant that consists of bifacial PV modules and reflectors. It was found that the chosen design for this type of system can provide a bifacial gain of 18%.