ZEMCH 2019 International Conference Proceedings April.2020 | Page 396
1. Introduction
IEA‐PVPS [1] points that photovoltaics (PV) led the global expansion of renewable energy in 2017
reaching a record growth of 40%, strongly expanding their markets in several countries, and also in
Brazil. Prices continue to fall, registering a reduction of about 70% since 2010. Power generation has
also grown by 30%, reaching 460TWh that means 2.14% of the total electricity generated worldwide.
According to National Energy Balance 2019 [2], 80.4% of electricity demand in Brazil is met by
renewable energy, with emphasis on the water source that accounts for 65.2% of domestic supply. In
this scenario, the Brazilian energy sector is one of the least carbon‐intensive in the world. However,
recent water crises have highlighted the risk of almost exclusive dependence on hydroelectric energy
sources, highlighting the need to seek complementary energy sources.
Pereira et al. [3] point out that in the least sunny place in Brazil, it is possible to generate more solar
electricity than in the sunniest place in Germany, i. e., being unequivocal the potential of using solar
energy in the country.
Net metering rules were issued by the Brazilian government in 2012, launching the starting point
for the growing of solar energy in Brazil. Three years later a regulation revision turned more flexible
the possibilities of adhesion increasing the adoption of PV.
BIPV systems already play a significant role in electricity generation in several countries, but their
diffusion is at an early stage in Brazil, being still in limited use due to the lack of knowledge of their
true potential. This article aims to provide a concise review on BIPV systems and an overview of the
expansion of PV in Brazil, also identifying the approach of scientific studies on BIPV conducted by
Brazilian researchers in the last ten years.
2. Materials and Methods
For the theoretical basis of this article, a literature review was conducted with the consultation of
scientific articles, theses, dissertations and technical reports selected from relevant databases.
The quantitative summary of scientific studies on BIPV carried out in Brazil in the last ten years
(2009‐2019) considered a selection of doctorate’s theses and master’s dissertations obtained from
CAPES Brazilian Government Agency for Postgraduate Studies, and articles published by Brazilian
researchers written in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
3. Results
3.1. BIPV concepts and applications
PV systems can be mounted directly on the ground or in buildings. In buildings can be classified
as Building‐Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) or as BIPV. BAPVs are installed independently of the
building structure, but it could be difficult to identify if the mounting system is not cleared expounded.
There is no absolute consensus, even some works include BAPV as a BIPV subcategory [4] or accepts
that the BIPV elements may not be fully integrated [5].
According to the IEA‐PVPS T15‐04 report [6], “A BIPV module is a PV module and a construction
product together, designed to be a component of the building. A BIPV product is the smallest
(electrically and mechanically) non‐divisible photovoltaic unit in a BIPV system which retains building‐
related functionality.” In summary, the constructive function of the BIPV is a prerequisite for the
integrity of the building envelope. Therefore, they must offer as part of the envelope, necessarily:
primary protection against weather and mechanical resistance properties appropriate to the separation
between indoor and outdoor environments [7].
The range of BIPV products is very wide and can be classified in various ways, and there is no
consensus on the various categories since different criteria are adopted.
Depending on the role played in the envelope, BIPV can be divided into roofing or facade
applications. Zhang et al. [8] studies indicate that about 80% of the current market of commercialized
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