Comparative review of single and bifacial photovoltaic panels and solar power plants

The world population is increasing rapidly. The basic needs of the increasing world population, such as heating, air conditioning and lighting, which are both food and shelter activities, are increasing rapidly day by day. Today, most of these energy needs are provided from fossil-based fuels. It has become inevitable to meet the current energy demand and to use renewable energy sources instead of fossil resources. In order to minimize the damage caused by fossil-based resources to the environment, systems and energy production methods that are less harmful to the environment and low-cost systems that allow the use of renewable energy sources should be selected instead of these systems. Photovoltaic panel systems, which are suitable for both individual and industrial energy production, are among the leading ones. In this thesis study, projects were evaluated using the net present value method and profitability index method in project evaluation methods, in line with the information received from two actively operating solar power plants. As a result of the examination and calculations, it was determined that the solar power plant, which was installed with two-way panels using the net present value method with a 20% discount, approached the full project cost at the end of its fifth year, while this period passed for the sixth for the one-way panel. The profitability index method also confirms the net present value method. As a result, although the costs of one-way panels are lower than bifacial panels in solar energy panel applications, they cover the costs in a shorter time compared to one-way panels due to the high energy production capacity of bifacial panels.