Promoting Grid-Connected Photovoltaics in Brazil Through High Visibility Showcase BIPV Projects
Abstract
In most of the large countries of the developing world grid-connected, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems in the urban environment can have an important role to play, especially in sunny areas, where high annual energy yields make PV generation more competitive. In Brazil, high and rising electricity tariffs, high solar irradiation levels, and the declining costs of PV will lead to the cost-effectiveness of solar electricity (i.e. grid-parity) sometime soon in the present decade. In this context, this paper presents technical aspects on the potential of BIPV in Brazil, and an overview of a number of high visibility BIPV projects, namely the Eletrosul Megawatt Solar, the Solar Soccer Stadia for the 2014 World Cup, and the Solar Airports projects currently under way in the country. These projects aim at the same time to promote large-scale photovoltaic generation in Brazil to energy planners, and to attract the attention of architects and builders to the aesthetic potential of PV as a building element. Two major worldwide events to take place in Brazil are the Soccer World Cup in 2014, and the Olympic Games in 2016. These events will attract considerable media attention worldwide, and are a perfect opportunity to showcase the PV technology in Brazil and globally. In the case of the Solar Airports project, the leitmotiv includes CO2 abatement of the emissions related to the aviation industry, since air flight is currently responsible for some 5% of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and is expected to double until 2015.