Mist-cooled bifacial solar panels boost yield in UAE heat study

Researchers from United Arab Emirates University and the University of Sharjah have published a study in ScienceDirect on enhancing photovoltaic performance in extreme heat. The team developed a mist-cooled sandwich bifacial PV system composed of two back-to-back monofacial panels with integrated mist cooling. The system was tested under outdoor conditions in the UAE and showed a 26.05% higher energy yield than standard monofacial panels without cooling. Front surface temperatures were reduced by 20.48% on sunny days and 13.18% on cloudy days using direct mist cooling. Rear panel temperatures dropped by 34.03% when the front was cooled, with additional rear reductions of up to 16.02%. The system generated 45.34 kWh/m² more energy annually and provided a financial benefit of $5.48/m². The results demonstrate improved efficiency without additional land use, particularly for high-temperature regions like the Middle East.