COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FLOATING MONOFACIAL AND BIFACIAL MODULES IN EQUATORIAL AREA: WEST SUMATERA

This study conducts a comparative performance and economic analysis of monofacial and bifacial floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) systems in West Sumatra, Indonesia, using PVSol and PVSyst simulation tools. Simulations were performed at two tilt angles (30° and 60°) using LG450S2W-U6 (monofacial) and LG340N1T-V5 (bifacial) modules. Key performance indicators analyzed include energy yield, system efficiency, bifacial gain, and Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). Results show that monofacial modules produce slightly higher energy yields (average 15,125.2 kWh/year) and lower LCOE (USD 0.0230/kWh) compared to bifacial modules (14,927.2 kWh/year, USD 0.0235/kWh). Although bifacial modules offer potential gains in high-albedo environments, their higher capital cost limits financial competitiveness under standard equatorial conditions. The findings provide stakeholders with quantitative insights for selecting optimal PV configurations in equatorial floating installations, balancing energy output and economic feasibility.