According to a new white paper from Arizona State University (ASU), the rear-hanging cables in bifacial solar projects do not provide sufficient shading, which can affect the project's performance or reliability.

The white paper *Impact of Post Suspension Cable Bundle Sunshading on the Performance Parameters of Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules* was authored by Dr. GovindaSamy Tamizhmani, Director of the Photovoltaic Reliability Laboratory at Arizona State University and Research Professor. Affordable Wire Management (AWM) collaborated in the writing of this paper.

"Collaborating with Dr. Mani and the team at Arizona State University on this research has been a true honor," said Dan Smith, AWM's Chief Technology Officer and co-founder. "Arizona State University is my alma mater, making this partnership deeply personal. The research findings we've jointly developed are believed to fundamentally transform the design of bifacial photovoltaic cable management in the entire utility-scale industry."

The study found that the number of cables in the rear cable bundle ranges from 2 to 16, with suspension lengths varying from 3 to 6 inches. The impact of cable trays on photovoltaic module performance is negligible, with an effect on Pmax of ≤0.6%, while the 3% to 30% loss associated with installation structures is significantly greater. These results remain consistent across single-axis trackers, fixed tilt systems, and various surface conditions (including white ground), indicating that the evaluated cable tray design is unlikely to cause any meaningful performance loss in practical applications.

Beyond performance, industry experience and supplier evaluations indicate that the modular post-cable tray system can significantly enhance efficiency, including reducing total cable length by approximately 20% to 30%, cutting installation time by 15% to 20%, while eliminating pinch points near torque tubes and tracker components.

Shadows can be harmful, ultimately leading to reduced energy production, improper power output, and hotspots. The industry is too cautious about this and always arranges cables along structural components such as torque tubes to prevent rear obstruction. However, due to the interaction between wiring and mobile system components, this approach increases cable length and reduces reliability. The research results and white paper prove that shadows are not a factor worth paying attention to, and rear suspension cables do not affect performance and reliability.

In addition, a novel metric, Normalized Color Ratio (NSR), was developed and subsequently used to obtain these results. So far, there is no method to quantify the backside shading effect of double-sided photovoltaic devices. NSR isolates the performance impact of cable bundles from other factors, enabling accurate assessment of the actual power generation of the power plant. By establishing standardized methods to measure variables that were previously difficult to calculate, NSR not only strengthens research conclusions but also provides a powerful new approach for the industry. In the future, NSR may help provide information for design decisions and optimize the layout of power plant cable management.

AWM produces written management products for ground mounted solar projects. The company's bonsai system uses the "golden row" method for string management, providing installation personnel with repeatable guidance along the tracking system wiring. Based on the results of this new study, AWM is further refining its design to support straight cable routing across module frameworks.

The concept of "Golden Bank" was standardized as a "reference bank" at the beginning of construction. This line serves as a blueprint for cable routing, connection points, and overall system layout, enabling staff to effectively replicate best practices across the entire site. By resolving potential conflicts early and creating clear installation benchmarks, Golden Row has reduced rework, accelerated personnel training, and improved the consistency and quality of large-scale projects.

At AWM, we view installation guidance as an extension of product design. Every detail has been carefully designed to provide consistency and predictability on site, "said Scott Rand, CEO and co-founder of AWM. Our gold plating method embodies this concept by establishing a clear standard to achieve faster and more reliable installations. With the introduction of NSR, the industry now has a validated framework to accurately assess shading effects, enabling developers and engineers to make wiser design decisions and improve the performance and long-term reliability of power plants. ”