Potential of Solar Façades for Residential Buildings in Brazil
Abstract
Brazil has high solar energy harvesting potential, which has supported the growing integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems in buildings, particularly for rooftop applications. Façades typically offer lower energy performance compared to tilted roofs; however, they can serve as alternatives to meet the building’s energy demand. This study investigates the potential of PV façades in residential buildings across different Brazilian states. For each State Capital a linear building with 6 typical social housing apartments were simulated in North-South and East-West orientations. Energy generation was estimated using Radiasol software to determine solar irradiation related to the maximum number of PV modules (350W) accommodated on the surface. Electricity demand was derived from Brazilian residential consumption databases considering three demand scenarios (average unit demand, and units with 2 and 4 residents). Results showed that Scenario 2, with 2 residents in corner apartments, was the most favorable: over 75% of cities met their energy demand, and about 23% exceeded 120%. In East-West orientation buildings, more than 60% of corner units achieved full demand. Scenario 3, with 4 occupants, was the least efficient, as center apartments facing south generated only 19-28% of the required energy, and those facing North produced 24-41%. The analysis demonstrates the photovoltaic potential of Brazilian façades in social housing, particularly for corner units with 2 occupants or efficient energy demand.
Keywords
building-integrated photovoltaics, zero-net energy building, residential electricity demand, urban decarbonization, solar energy potential, tropical cities