The Scientific Evidence Behind Vertical Bifacial Solar: Research-Proven Energy Savings for Homeowners

Two new panels installed today. This is a potentially 800 more watts per hour of energy for our home. And less $ I have to give to my energy provider.

I understand this maybe new to you. Vertical Bifacial Solar is new for most. New things can be scary, but we are not afraid. We have read the science and know that this is another solar application that makes sense. One thing is very clear, our utility bills are not getting any cheaper. And unless you have solar or other sources of power, they own your power. When are you going to take control?

The Science You Can't Ignore

Imagine for a moment that you've been looking at solar energy all wrong. That the flat, tilted panels you've seen on rooftops for decades aren't actually the most efficient way to capture the sun's power. What if I told you that turning those panels vertically and making them work from both sides could transform your energy future?

This isn't marketing hype or theoretical potential. It's cold, hard science, backed by multiple independent research studies from prestigious institutions around the world. The kind of evidence that makes energy experts sit up and take notice.

The fence around your property right now produces exactly zero watts of power. Meanwhile, your utility bills keep climbing, month after month, year after year. That reality won't change unless you take action. But what if that very fence could become your path to energy independence?

The University of York's Groundbreaking Discovery

Let's start with the facts. The University of York conducted what many consider the first truly comprehensive study of Vertical Bifacial Photovoltaic (VBPV) systems. Their findings weren't just impressive—they were transformative.

Their year-long empirical study revealed that VBPV systems outperformed traditional tilted monofacial PV systems by a staggering 26.91% during early morning hours and 22.88% in late afternoon periods. Think about that—nearly 27% more energy precisely when you need it most: as you're getting ready for work or coming home to cook dinner.

Even more compelling? These weren't just summer results. The VBPV systems showed consistent performance advantages across all seasons, with winter gains reaching 24.52% compared to traditional systems. In the darkest months, when conventional solar struggles most, vertical bifacial shines brightest.

The Temperature Revelation That Changed Everything

Perhaps the most fascinating scientific breakthrough comes from the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Their researchers uncovered something previous studies had missed: vertical bifacial panels operate at significantly lower temperatures than horizontal panels—approximately half as hot under identical conditions.

This isn't just an interesting observation; it translates directly to your bottom line. Lower operating temperatures reduce voltage losses from overheating, allowing vertical panels to generate up to 4% more voltage on sunny days and approximately 2.5% more annual energy production overall.

As study author Bas B. Van Aken explained, "These lower operating temperatures have a positive effect on the operating voltage. And thereby on the total energy generation, particularly under high irradiance conditions."

Feel the weight of that statement. When the sun is strongest—when traditional panels are losing efficiency due to heat—vertical bifacial panels are performing at their best.

The Science of Light Capture Reimagined

The fundamental advantage of vertical bifacial technology lies in its revolutionary approach to capturing light. Traditional panels only utilize direct sunlight hitting their front surface, essentially ignoring up to 30% of available solar energy.

Vertical bifacial panels capture:

- Direct sunlight

- Ground-reflected light

- Ambient light from all directions

When mounted vertically, these panels create a unique advantage: they avoid the midday overheating that plagues traditional installations while maximizing morning and evening light capture. This creates a bimodal generation pattern that more closely matches when you actually use electricity in your home.

Researchers at the University of Twente have taken this concept even further, investigating how free-space luminescent solar concentrators (FSLSCs) can enhance VBPV performance by up to 60% during winter months. This represents the cutting edge of solar science—optimizing light management rather than just improving the photovoltaic materials themselves.

Real People, Real Savings, Right Now

This isn't futuristic technology waiting to be developed. Vertical bifacial solar is already helping homeowners reduce their energy bills while contributing to environmental sustainability:

Since the 1990s, the Swiss have been using vertical bifacial modules as dual-purpose installations along roadways, serving as both energy producers and noise barriers. Rutgers University has implemented vertical bifacial panels that allow farming to continue underneath and between the panels, creating dual-use land that produces both food and energy.

In space-constrained urban environments, vertical installations on building facades and as property boundaries are providing energy generation without sacrificing valuable real estate. And in snow-prone regions, recent studies show that vertical rooftop PV performs better than conventional rooftop solar under snowy conditions, providing consistent energy production even in winter months.

The Leipzig University study found that vertical bifacial panels could save more than 10 megatons of CO₂ per year in a scenario without additional electricity storage. That's not just saving money—it's saving our planet.

The Evidence Keeps Mounting

What makes the case for VBPV technology so compelling is the consistency of findings across multiple independent research teams:

- "Modeling of energy gain in bifacial vertical PV fences" (Energy Storage and Conversion, 2025)

- "Comprehensive study on the efficiency of vertical bifacial photovoltaic (VBPV) system" (Nature, 2024)

- "Performance of vertically mounted bifacial photovoltaics under the Nordic conditions" (Frontiers in Built Environment, 2024)

- "PVSails: Harnessing Innovation With Vertical Bifacial PV Modules in Marine Environments" (2024)

- LONGi's 2018 study showing increased energy yield of 5-30 percent

When multiple scientific teams, using different methodologies in different parts of the world, all reach similar conclusions—that's not coincidence. That's scientific consensus.

A Technology Built on Decades of Innovation

This isn't a flash in the pan. Vertical bifacial solar technology stands on the shoulders of giants, representing the culmination of decades of scientific advancement.

Hiroshi Mori first proposed the concept of bifacial solar cells in 1960 while working for what would become Sharp Corporation. The Soviet Space Program demonstrated practical bifacial cells in their Salyut space stations in the mid-1970s, and Professor Antonio Luque at the Technical University of Madrid developed industrially feasible bifacial cells in the late 1970s.

By the 1990s, researchers at the Institute of Solar Energy (IES-UPM) had developed a bifacial solar cell with 18.1% efficiency on the front face and 19.1% on the rear face. Today's latest innovation combines perovskite materials with bifacial technology, pushing conversion rates beyond 25%.

The Decision Is Yours, But The Science Is Clear

Your current fence produces zero power. Your utility bills keep rising. These are facts, not opinions.

The science shows that vertical bifacial photovoltaic technology works, and works exceptionally well. It's not just an incremental improvement but a fundamental rethinking of how we harness solar energy. The evidence shows consistent performance improvements in:

- Energy yield (7-27% depending on comparison and time of day)

- Seasonal performance (particularly impressive in winter months)

- Thermal management (operating at significantly lower temperatures)

- Space utilization (exceptional ground coverage ratio)

- Temporal energy distribution (better alignment with demand patterns)

Until you do something about your energy situation—whether rooftop or fence—nothing will change in your utility bills. You might even need another job just to support having electricity in your home. Or you could invest in a fence that is backed by science.

As we face the dual challenges of climate change and increasing energy costs, vertical bifacial photovoltaic technology represents not just a theoretical possibility but a proven solution that's already helping people save money and reduce their environmental impact today.

The science is clear. The technology is proven. The savings are real.

The only question that remains is: How long will you wait to join the energy revolution that's already underway?

Do your own homework. Read the studies, come to your own conclusions, and if you need Sol Fence, we will be here to help!

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References

1. University of York. (2024). "Comprehensive study on the efficiency of vertical bifacial photovoltaic (VBPV) system." *Nature*, 2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68018-1

2. Van Aken, B.B. (2023). "Thermal model in digital twin of vertical PV system helps to explain unexpected yield gains." *EPJ Photovoltaics*. https://www.epj-pv.org/articles/epjpv/full_html/2023/01/pv230038/pv230038.html

3. Frontiers in Built Environment. (2024). "Performance of vertically mounted bifacial photovoltaics under the Nordic conditions." https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/built-environment/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1343036/full

4. Wiley Online Library. (2024). "PVSails: Harnessing Innovation With Vertical Bifacial PV Modules in Marine Environments." https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pip.3841

5. Energy Storage and Conversion. (2025). "Modeling of energy gain in bifacial vertical PV fences." https://ojs.acad-pub.com/index.php/ESC/article/view/1957

6. Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. (2022). "Integration of vertical solar power plants into a future German energy system." *Smart Energy*. https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/pv_solar/vertical-solar-systems-reduce-the-need-for-20220722

7. LONGi Solar. (2018). "Vertical bifacial solar panels." *Solar Washington*. https://www.solarwa.org/vertical_bifacial_solar_panels

8. University of Twente. (2024). "Improving rooftop bifacial PV system performance with free-space luminescent solar concentrators." *PV Magazine*. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/12/13/improving-rooftop-bifacial-pv-system-performance-with-free-space-luminescent-solar-concentrators/

9. Rutgers Climate, Energy & Environmental Institute. (2023). "Cows and solar panels: In a New Jersey first, project melds farming with electricity generation." https://rcei.rutgers.edu/cows-and-solar-panels-in-a-new-jersey-first-project-melds-farming-with-electricity-generation/

10. PV Magazine. (2025). "Vertical rooftop PV performs better than conventional rooftop solar under the snow." https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/01/08/vertical-rooftop-pv-performs-better-than-conventional-rooftop-solar-under-the-snow/

11. Wikipedia. (2024). "Bifacial solar cells." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifacial_solar_cells

12. International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV). (2023). "Market projections for bifacial PV cells." https://itrpv.vdma.org/