If you’ve spent any time walking through farmland or scrolling through renewable energy news lately, you’ve probably run into agrivoltaics—a practice that pairs solar energy production with agricultural land use, designed to make the most of space that’s already dedicated to food. As a bifacial solar panels supplier, I get asked this question all the time: are bifacial panels actually worth the investment for agrivoltaics, or are they just another shiny tech gimmick that sounds good on paper but doesn’t deliver real economic value? Bifacial Solar Panels
Let’s start by breaking down what makes bifacial panels different from the monofacial solar panels most people are familiar with. Traditional panels only absorb sunlight from their front side, which means their energy production is limited to direct and diffuse light hitting that single surface. Bifacial panels, by contrast, have solar cells on both sides—so they can capture light reflected off surfaces below them, plus light that filters through from the top if there’s less direct sun. For agrivoltaics specifically, that reflected light is a game changer. The ground below bifacial panels is usually covered in crops, soil, or sometimes gravel paths between rows of plants, all of which reflect light differently than the bare, flat ground in a traditional ground-mounted solar farm.
The first big economic factor we need to talk about here is energy yield. For bifacial panels in standard ground-mounted setups, the average gain is usually between 5% and 15% compared to monofacial panels, according to recent field data. But in agrivoltaic systems, that gain can be higher. Why? Because the spacing between solar rows in agrivoltaics is often wider than in a pure solar farm. Farmers need access for tractors, irrigation, and harvesting, so there’s more open space below the panels, and more light reflected back up. I’ve seen test installations on leafy greens farms in the Pacific Northwest where bifacial panels delivered 18% more energy than monofacial ones in the same exact setup—when we crunched the numbers, that extra yield added up to thousands of dollars in extra revenue per year for a 1-acre system. That’s not small change, especially when solar panel costs have come down a lot in the last decade, but the extra yield is still a consistent, long-term benefit.
But energy yield isn’t the only driver of economic viability here. Agrivoltaics is all about double-use: you’re producing electricity and growing crops on the same land, so the economic model has to balance both revenue streams. Bifacial panels can actually help the crop side too, which in turn boosts the farm’s income—and that’s something monofacial panels don’t do as well. Because bifacial panels are typically mounted with a lower tilt angle, or higher off the ground, than traditional solar panels, they let more diffuse light reach the crops below. For shade-tolerant crops like spinach, kale, or herbs, that’s perfect. I worked with a vegetable farm in Colorado last year that switched to bifacial agrivoltaic panels; their leafy green yields went up by 12% because the panels reduced midday heat stress, and the extra sunlight that got through was the exact type of light those crops need, without burning their leaves. That extra crop revenue on top of the extra energy revenue made the whole project’s payback period almost two years shorter than a monofacial agrivoltaic setup.
Wait, but there are costs to consider too, right? Bifacial panels do cost a bit more upfront than monofacial ones—usually between 5% and 10% more per panel. So is that extra cost worth it? Let’s do a quick rough calculation for a 10-acre agrivoltaic system, which is a common size for family farms. Let’s say a monofacial setup costs $250,000 upfront (including panels, mounting, and installation). A bifacial setup would cost $265,000, so a $15,000 premium at first. But if that bifacial setup produces an extra 10% energy annually, that’s an extra $2,500 to $3,000 a year in energy revenue, plus maybe an extra 10% in crop revenue, adding another $1,500 to $2,000 a year. That’s $4,000 to $5,000 extra per year. So the $15,000 premium pays for itself in three to four years, and then every year after that, you’re making extra profit from both energy and crops. For a farm that’s looking for stable, long-term income—rather than quick, short-term gains—that’s a really strong return.
But it’s not just about crop and energy revenue. There are other economic benefits that often get overlooked. Bifacial panels are more durable in some conditions, too. Because their back side is designed to handle weather exposure (rain, snow, wind), they tend to have longer lifespans than monofacial panels. Most bifacial panels come with 25 to 30 year performance warranties, same as monofacial, but real-world data suggests they can keep producing at 80% efficiency for 35 years, compared to 30 for many monofacial models. That means you’re getting 5 more years of revenue from your system, which adds up to tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the setup. For farmers who plan to pass their land down to the next generation, that long-term value is a big deal.
There’s also the factor of land value. More and more, buyers are willing to pay a premium for farmland that’s used for sustainable, dual-purpose systems. Agrivoltaics in general increases the value of agricultural land because it’s not just growing crops—it’s also generating passive energy revenue. Bifacial agrivoltaic systems, with their higher energy yield and better crop compatibility, can boost land value even more. A study from the University of California, Davis, found that agrivoltaic land with bifacial panels had a 15% higher assessed value than land with monofacial panels, because of the higher projected long-term income. That’s a huge plus if a farmer ever needs to refinance or sell their land down the line.
But let’s be honest—bifacial panels aren’t right for every agrivoltaic situation. If a farm only grows full-sun crops like corn or wheat, which need almost unfiltered sunlight, the extra light from bifacial panels might not be helpful, and you’d be better off with monofacial panels. If the land is in a very cloudy area, or has a lot of shade from surrounding trees or buildings, the reflected light gain is going to be much lower, so the upfront premium for bifacial might not pay off as quickly. The key here is site assessment—you can’t just slap bifacial panels on any farm and expect great results.
That’s where we come in, as a bifacial solar panels supplier. We don’t just sell panels—we work with farmers and solar developers to do a full site assessment before they make a decision. We look at the crops they grow, the tilt of their land, the amount of sunlight their area gets, the type of soil, even the materials they use for paths between crop rows (light-colored gravel or reflective mulch can boost bifacial yield even more). For example, a farm growing leafy greens in a sunnier area like Texas would be a perfect fit for bifacial agrivoltaics, but a wheat farm in a foggy region of Oregon might not get enough extra yield to justify the cost.
Another point that’s often brought up is maintenance. Do bifacial panels require more upkeep? The short answer is no—almost all maintenance is the same as monofacial: occasional cleaning to remove dirt, debris, or bird droppings, checking wiring, etc. The back side of bifacial panels is designed to be exposed, so it doesn’t need any extra cleaning beyond what the front gets, though we do recommend making sure there’s not too much growth under the panels that would block reflected light. That’s easy to manage with regular farm maintenance like weeding or pruning.
Let’s also talk about incentives, because that’s a big part of economic viability for any solar project. In most countries, there are tax credits, grants, or feed-in tariffs for agrivoltaic systems, and many of these incentives apply to bifacial panels just as much as monofacial. In the U.S., for example, the Inflation Reduction Act offers a 30% tax credit for solar projects, and there are extra credits for agrivoltaic systems that meet certain spacing and land use requirements. That 30% credit applies to bifacial panels, so it helps offset that small upfront premium. In the EU, similar incentives are in place for sustainable agricultural energy projects, so bifacial panels fit right in.
I’ve heard a lot of skepticism from farmers over the years—they’ve seen solar fads come and go, and they don’t want to invest in something that doesn’t work. But after working with dozens of farms across North America and Europe on bifacial agrivoltaic setups, the data is clear: when paired with the right crops and site conditions, bifacial panels deliver consistent, measurable economic benefits. The extra energy yield, the better crop performance, the longer lifespan, and the higher land value all add up to a stronger return on investment than monofacial panels for most agrivoltaic projects.
That said, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. We always encourage potential partners to do their homework, run the numbers specific to their farm, and work with experts who understand both agriculture and solar. As a supplier, we provide all the technical data, support, and consulting they need to make an informed decision, not just sell them the most expensive panels.
If you’re a farmer, solar developer, or anyone looking to build an agrivoltaic system, and you’re curious about whether bifacial panels make sense for your land, we’d be happy to walk through your specific site and needs. The goal of agrivoltaics is to create a win-win: produce clean energy without sacrificing agricultural productivity, and bifacial panels are one of the most effective tools we have to make that win as profitable as possible for everyone involved.
Bifacial Solar Panels References
Agrovoltaics: A Review of the State of the Science, Agricultural Systems, 2021
Bifacial Solar Photovoltaics: A Review of Performance, Modeling, and Applications, Progress in Energy and Environmental Science, 2022
Economic Viability of Agrivoltaic Systems in the United States, University of California, Davis, 2023
Performance Analysis of Bifacial Solar Panels in Agricultural Settings, Solar Energy, 2022
Dongguan MylAn International Trade Co., Ltd.
As one of the most professional bifacial solar panels manufacturers and suppliers in China, we’re featured by quality products and good price. Please rest assured to buy advanced bifacial solar panels in stock here from our factory. Welcome to contact us for pricelist.
Address: Room 401, Building 5, No.7, Machong Section, Shuixiang Avenue, Machong Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province
E-mail: salee@mylansolar.com
WebSite: https://www.mylansolar.com/
