Middle of its segment, modest efficiency
The AE Solar Terra E CMD-72BD series was designed for installations where energy yield is not the only consideration, but also light control and protection of the space beneath the modules are important. These are semi-transparent panels that evenly distribute radiation, thereby reducing overheating and stress on plants while still producing current even in less sunny conditions. A key advantage is the combination of N-type TOPCon cell technology with a bifacial design, which allows for the utilization of light from below (e.g., from a light surface or structure).
In practice, the Terra E CMD-72BD solves a common problem in agro-photovoltaics: how to provide crops with the right microclimate without sacrificing the profitability of the PV system. The modules help to reduce water evaporation, provide protection from heavy rain, hail, and wind, and the glass-glass construction and stable encapsulation increase durability in a demanding environment.
This is a good choice for greenhouses, orchards, vineyards, and elevated installations, where the advantage over traditional modules comes from their real-world functionality, not just paper specifications.
Ranking
Signals from the data
Agrivoltaic and commercial.
Tight roof space.
Bottom 18% of the TOPCon 250-300 W segment, against a median of 14.99%.
Most greenhouse and agrivoltaic modules rely on older PERC cells or have lower efficiency (DMEGC Greenhouse: 11.61%, Solitek SOLID Agro Frameless: ~14.88%). The CMD-72BD, as a semi-transparent module with TOPCon N-type cells, achieves 14.36–15.39%, which translates to a significantly higher energy yield per square meter in the agricultural sector, while still maintaining the required light transmission for crops.
The manufacturer offers a full 30-year warranty on both the product and its power output, which is among the best in the segment (e.g., Solitek). For agrowoltaic installations, where land usage planning can span decades, the 30-year linear warranty significantly reduces investment risk.
AE Solar (founded in 2003, headquarters in Germany) is listed on the BNEF Tier-1 bankable manufacturers list, which makes it easier for banks and funds to finance projects. In the agrivoltaics sector, where installations often require financing, the bankability of a manufacturer is a significant advantage over less well-known brands.
The combination of semi-transparent glass-glass construction with bifaciality allows for energy generation from both the front (through the cells) and the back (e.g., through reflection from a light-colored surface or the support structure). In typical agrowoltaic installations with a light-colored substrate, the bifacial premium typically ranges from 5-15% additional annual energy compared to monofacial modules with the same front-facing parameters.
Semi-transparent panels diffuse light, reducing the risk of leaf scorching and limiting water evaporation – as demonstrated in studies for agrivoltaic installations in greenhouses and orchards. Unlike standard, opaque modules (such as Runtech RT Compact Mono), the CMD-72BD also serves as a functional component for cultivation, which provides a strong justification for its higher price in dual-use installations.
The maximum efficiency of 15.39% is significantly higher than that of standard 300 Wp modules from the same power range – the Runtech RT Compact Mono achieves 18.44%, which is more than 3% higher. This means that on the same roof area, the CMD-72BD will generate approximately 16-18% less energy. For installations where partial transparency is not required, this series is not competitive in terms of power density.
- Module efficiency of 14.4% is 1.6pp below average for TOPCon 0-400W panels (median: 16.0%)
- Power density of 143.6 W/m² is 16.2 W/m² below TOPCon 0-400W median (159.8 W/m²) - needs more roof space
- Temperature coefficient of -0.29%/°C matches the TOPCon 0-400W median
- Bifaciality factor of 80% can add 4-12% extra yield with reflective mounting surface
- #13896 for efficiency, #2165 for temperature performance out of 14005 panels
Specifications
Simulations
Degradation from this panel's own datasheet figures. No inverter, soiling or shading losses.
Model: bifaciality × albedo × 0.6 view factor. A first-order estimate, not a yield simulation.
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