Bifacial Solar Panels for Commercial Use in Canada

What Are Bifacial Monocrystalline Solar Panels?

Bifacial monocrystalline solar panels generate electricity from both the front and rear surfaces of the panel. The front face captures direct sunlight through standard monocrystalline PERC cells. The transparent rear face captures reflected light from the ground, rooftop surface, or surrounding environment, adding additional power output that a standard single-faced panel completely misses.

In high-albedo environments, which are surfaces with high light reflectivity such as snow-covered ground, white concrete, gravel, or light-coloured metal roofing, bifacial panels can increase total energy yield by 10 to 30 percent compared to equivalent standard monocrystalline panels. This makes bifacial technology the highest-yielding choice for commercial, agricultural, and ground-mounted solar installations in Canada.

Why Bifacial Solar Panels Perform Better in Canada

Canada's geography creates conditions that directly amplify the performance advantages of bifacial technology:

Snow reflectivity: Canada experiences significant snow cover across most provinces from November through March. Snow-covered ground has an albedo of 70 to 90 percent, among the highest of any natural surface. A bifacial panel mounted over snow-covered ground captures this reflected light on its rear face, generating meaningful additional power during winter months when front-face output is reduced by lower sun angles and shorter days.

Open land and ground mounts: A significant portion of Canadian solar installations are ground-mounted on farms, rural properties, and open land. Ground-mounted bifacial panels on light-coloured gravel or concrete pads generate substantially more rear-face energy than roof-mounted installations where the rear face is obstructed.

Commercial rooftop albedo: White TPO and EPDM membrane roofing, the most common commercial roofing material in Canada, reflects 70 to 80 percent of incident light. Commercial bifacial panels mounted slightly above white rooftop surfaces capture this reflected light directly on the rear face.

Bifacial vs Standard Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Bifacial Monocrystalline Solar Panels

• Energy Source: Captures sunlight from both the front and rear faces.
• Additional Energy Yield: Typically produces 10% to 30% more energy than standard panels under the right conditions.
• Cell Technology: PERC half-cut cells.
• Construction: Durable dual-glass design.
• Best Environments: Snow, gravel, concrete, white roofing, and other reflective surfaces.
• Ideal Applications: Commercial installations, ground-mounted systems, and solar farms.
• Panel Weight: Slightly heavier due to the dual-glass construction.
• Best for Canadian Use: Ground-mounted systems, farms, and commercial projects where reflected light can boost performance.

Standard Monocrystalline Solar Panels

• Energy Source: Captures sunlight from the front face only.
• Additional Energy Yield: Standard baseline performance.
• Cell Technology: Standard or PERC cells.
• Construction: Glass front with a polymer backsheet.
• Best Environments: Suitable for virtually any installation surface.
• Ideal Applications: Residential rooftop solar systems.
• Panel Weight: Lighter than bifacial panels.
• Best for Canadian Use: Homes and residential rooftop installations.

How to Size a Commercial Bifacial Solar Array

A 585W bifacial solar panel is designed for commercial and large-scale residential applications. Use the guide below to estimate the number of panels required for your project.

Large Home or Small Business (10 kW)

• Recommended Panels: 17–18 × 585W panels
• Estimated System Size: 9.9–10.5 kW

Commercial Building (25 kW)

• Recommended Panels: 43 × 585W panels
  
• Estimated System Size: 25.2 kW
  

Agricultural or Farm System (50 kW)

• Recommended Panels: 86 × 585W panels
• Estimated System Size: 50.3 kW

Large Commercial or Industrial System (100 kW)

• Recommended Panels: 172 × 585W panels
• Estimated System Size: 100.6 kW

Need help choosing the right system size? Contact Volts for commercial project pricing, system design assistance, and bulk order availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bifacial solar panel and how does it generate power from both sides?

A bifacial solar panel uses a transparent dual-glass construction that allows sunlight to pass through to the rear face. The rear face contains the same monocrystalline solar cells as the front face and captures reflected light from the ground or surrounding surface, converting it into additional electricity on top of the direct sunlight captured by the front face.

How much more energy does a bifacial panel produce compared to a standard panel?

Bifacial panels typically produce 10 to 30 percent more energy than equivalent standard single-face panels, depending on the albedo of the surface beneath the rear face. Snow-covered ground (70 to 90 percent albedo) and white commercial roofing (70 to 80 percent albedo) deliver the highest bifacial gains. Dark or vegetated ground surfaces deliver lower gains.

What does PERC mean in a solar panel specification?

PERC stands for Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell. It is a manufacturing enhancement to standard monocrystalline cells that adds a reflective passivation layer to the rear of each cell, reflecting unabsorbed light back through the cell for a second pass and increasing cell efficiency by 1 to 2 percentage points compared to standard monocrystalline cells.

Are 585W bifacial panels compatible with standard string inverters?

Yes. The Elios Voltaic 585HC-BF is compatible with standard commercial string inverters. Check your inverter's maximum input voltage and MPPT voltage range against the panel's open-circuit voltage (Voc) and maximum power voltage (Vmp) specifications before configuring your array. Contact Volts Energies for inverter compatibility guidance.

Is the Elios Arbora P8-C compatible with panels other than the Elios 585HC-BF?

The Arbora P8-C is engineered for Elios Voltaic high-wattage panel dimensions. Compatibility with other panel brands or smaller wattage panels depends on frame dimensions and weight. Contact Volts Energies before ordering the Arbora for use with non-Elios panels.

Does Volts Energies ship bifacial solar panels and mounting systems across Canada?

Yes. All bifacial solar panels and mounting systems ship nationwide across Canada. Free shipping applies on orders over $297.