As most of the country hunkers down to brace for a cold, snowy winter season, PV modules have no such luxury and must remain exposed to the elements. Although solar technology has evolved greatly over the decades, not all modules are engineered to ensure long-term reliability and optimized performance during extreme weather. This means that winter storms, characterized by heavy snowfall, ice accumulation, and extreme cold, can pose significant risks for solar PV installations, particularly older installations using monofacial modules.

With the solar industry pushing the boundaries of efficiency and reliability, bifacial n-type TOPCon advanced technology modules have emerged as a cost-effective solution for commercial and industrial (C&I), engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms, and developers looking to maximize energy production and mitigate weather-related risks in harsh winter environments.

Below, we examine the risks and costs of winter weather to solar PV systems and how bifacial Vertex N modules strengthen resilience and optimize performance in extreme colds and heavy snowfalls.

The Impact of Winter Weather on Older, Monofacial Solar PV Systems

Snow accumulation on PV modules and freezing weather can lead to several issues:

• Mechanical Stress: The snow’s weight can cause modules to warp or break, especially if the snow load exceeds the system's design specifications.

• Reduced Efficiency: Snow covering the panels blocks sunlight, reducing or completely halting electricity generation. During peak winter months, estimated snow losses range from 1% to 15% annually, with potential monthly losses reaching up to 90% in severe conditions.

• Poor System Performance: A study of more than 800 PV sites revealed that 12% of maintenance logs referenced ambient or extreme weather conditions and listed snow events as causing the greatest performance reductions in systems using monofacial panels, with a 54.5% drop in energy generation between event and non-event days.

• Long-term Degradation: Extreme weather events, including heavy snow, can accelerate the PV system degradation due to mechanical stresses from snow that crack cells, contributing to long-term performance losses.

• Average damage costs: When freezing damage occurs, commercial operations face an average of nearly $33,000 in claims. The largest average losses are for commercial solar items caused by freeze, ice, and snow, followed by fire and wind. 

These figures represent potential revenue losses that can affect project economics, shake investor confidence, and become a make-or-break point for systems proposed in cold-weather regions. Thankfully, the latest generation of bifacial mono-glass modules with n-type TOPCon technology demonstrate remarkable resilience in extreme conditions and boost energy gains in snowy conditions.

Bifacial N-type TOPCon Modules Enhance Resilience Through Design and Technology

The innovative 210mm n-type TOPCon advanced technology platform not only significantly enhances cell efficiency and performance but it also delivers reliable and resilient module performance in harsh winter conditions over the system’s lifespan. Trinasolar's Vertex N exemplifies bifacial n-type TOPCon technology advancements and has been recognized for its outstanding reliability in ice and snow tests. 

The modules underwent rigorous reliability tests in extremely low temperatures for power output, mechanical deformation, grounding, insulation, moisture leakage, electroluminescence (EL), and other performance metrics. The test focused on the module’s five key auxiliary materials — glass, encapsulant film, backsheet, interconnect ribbon, and frame.

The modules have shown exceptional resilience in cold and snowy conditions, and key features include:

• Improved Bifaciality: Snowy ground can enhance the albedo effect, reflecting more sunlight onto the back of bifacial modules, thereby boosting energy output. Vertex N modules deliver up to 30% additional back-side power gains than other bifacial modules and up to 85% back-side power gains than monofacial panels.

• Lower temperature coefficient:  With a -0.29%/°C coefficient and operating temperature, Vertex N performs exceptionally well in low temperatures to maintain power output integrity, mechanical structure, and insulation. These features make n-type modules ideal for data centers in snowy and high-latitude regions.

• Mechanical Robustness: The robust mechanical design, including non-destructive cutting technology and high-density encapsulation to reduce the risk of hidden cracks, is engineered to endure heavy snow loads and prevent structural damage, ensuring long-term system reliability with mechanical performance up to +5400/-2400 Pa.

• Low Degradation Rate: Improved cell process and module material control ensures higher resistance to Potential Induced Degradation (PID) with an excellent incident angle modifier (IAM) and low irradiation performance, validated by 3rd party certifications.

Solar Panels to Conquer the Cold and Snow

Bifacial Vertex N modules offer EPCs and developers operating in colder and snowy environments the chance to:

1. Boost energy yield, especially in winter months, to lower LCOE

2. Reduce snow-related performance losses and minimize production dips

3. Lower operations and maintenance (O&M) costs due to improved durability and snow-shedding capabilities

4. Extend system lifespan using durable and reliable modules

Don’t let harsh winter conditions stifle your solar project pipeline or affect a system’s long-term reliability and performance. Reach out to the team at Trinasolar US to learn more about the benefits of bifacial Vertex N for cold or snowy climates.