The Effect of Facade Orientation on the Electrical Performance of a BIPV System: A Case Study in João Pessoa, Brazil

Photovoltaic solar energy has emerged as a vital solution in energy transition, especially in buildings with building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. This study evaluated a BIPV system in João Pessoa, Brazil, using PVsyst 7.4 software for simulations in 2023 and experimental tests in 2024 to compare real and simulated energy values injected into the grid. The experiments were conducted in April, June, July, and August, covering seasonal variations. The east and west orientations showed the best performance, with annual production of 65.5 and 81.6 kWh, respectively, due to the balanced solar irradiance. Conversely, the north and south orientations generated less electricity, with 51.3 and 42.1 kWh, respectively, due to lower direct solar exposure. The average injected energy was 0.2445 to 0.2530 kWh/day in April, 0.2851 to 0.2470 kWh/day in June, 0.2816 to 0.2400 kWh/day in July, and 0.1556 to 0.1700 kWh/day in August. Performance ratios were 44.3% for the north, 44.4% for the south, 47.4% for the east, and 56.8% for the west, highlighting the impact of orientation. It is concluded that the east and west facades are more suitable for BIPV systems in João Pessoa, emphasizing the importance of local factors in optimizing urban energy efficiency.