Ever thought about how to make your solar panels work a little harder for you? Bifacial solar panels are becoming a popular choice for homeowners and businesses recently. Unlike traditional panels that only absorb sunlight from one side, bifacial panels are designed to collect light from both the front and the back, making better use of reflected sunlight and surrounding surfaces. Their growing popularity says a lot, but they’re not the right fit for everyone. That’s why we’ll help you discover the choices you have for your New York City solar energy installation.

What Are Bifacial Solar Panels?

Bifacial solar panels are photovoltaic modules (devices that turn sunlight into electricity with the photovoltaic effect) designed to capture sunlight on both their front and rear surfaces. The front side collects direct sunlight, while the back side absorbs reflected light, also known as albedo, from surfaces like concrete, snow, water, or gravel. Unlike traditional monofacial panels, which have an opaque backing, bifacial panels use transparent materials like dual-glass or clear backsheet construction. This dual exposure increases total energy generation, often by 10 to 20%, depending on installation height, angle, reflectivity, and other environmental conditions.

Here’s a way simpler way to understand it: Think of sunbathing with a mirror underneath you. You’re catching rays from the sun above when your body is face up, but the mirror also reflects light back onto you from below, giving your back a tan as well!

If you’re a visual learner, here’s a diagram to help you understand bifacial solar panels:

Benefits of Bifacial Panels

There are a plethora of benefits that come with installing bifacial solar panels,

More Power with the Same Space: They don’t take up more space just because they have two faces! Bifacial panels generate 10% to 20% more energy using the same space as monofacial panels.
Extra Durable: The glass-on-glass design makes them sturdy and weather-resistant. They tend to last longer than standard panels.
Great for Reflective Surface: If your property has a light-colored roof, concrete driveway, white gravel, snow in the winter, or even a reflective metal surface, bifacials are definitely a great option. The back of the panel will make use of that bounced light.
Lower Energy Waste: The extra sunlight that might come from both faces of the solar panels won’t go to waste. It’ll help you power more or save for future needs.
Works Well in Open Spaces: Bifacial panels shine brightest (literally and figuratively) in wide-open areas where the back isn’t blocked by shadows or nearby objects.

Are Bifacial Panels Right for Everyone?

While bifacial solar panels offer lots of great advantages, they’re not the perfect match for every situation. These solar panels work at their fullest when the backside has enough space to “breathe”. This might be in yards, driveways, or open fields. This might mean bifacial solar panels might not be the best choice for a dark rooftop that sunlight can’t reflect against. But again, bifacials still be advantageous to residential homeowners if you have a reflective roof or a backyard with enough space for solar panels.

If you need some pointers for evaluation, here are some questions to think about questions before deciding if bifacial solar panels are right for you:

Is there open space or clearance below where the panels will go?
Is the surface underneath light-colored or reflective?
Will shadows block the backside of the panels during the day?

If you answered yes to the first two and no to the last one, then bifacial solar panels could be a great fit.

Monofacial vs. Bifacial

Here’s a quick side-by-side on the different features of monofacial and bifacial solar panels to help you see the difference.

Feature	Monofacial Panels	Bifacial Solar Panels
Light Capture	Front only	Front and back
Best Setup	Rooftops, small areas	Open spaces, reflective ground
Output Potential	Standard	Up to 20% more (with reflection)
Durability	Single glass layer	Glass on both sides
Visual Design	Opaque back sheet	Transparent back
Ideal Mounting Style	Flat or angled	Elevated, open underneath

Both types work well, but if you’ve got the right setup, bifacial solar panels can give you more power for the same footprint.

The Future of Bifacial Technology

Bifacial solar panels can be a smart step forward depending on your designated area for it and future solar plans. With the ability to soak up sunlight from both sides, they give you more energy from every beam of light that comes their way. As technology keeps advancing, these panels are becoming more common in both small setups and large open projects. If your property has the space and the right conditions, bifacial panels could offer a big return, without needing any extra ground.