Reliability and long term performance of the first grid-connected, building-integrated amorphous silicon PV installation in Brazil

In this paper we present the performance assessment of the first building-integrated, grid-connected PV installation in Brazil. The 2kWp, thin-film a-Si system is fully monitored, and has been operating continuously since 1997. We show performance results over the 10-years period, and discuss reliability issues related to the continuous operation of this distributed energy source in the urban environment of a metropolitan state capital in Brazil. With these performance results, we also perform an economic analysis and a grid-parity study to make the case for grid-connected PV in a developing country. We present scenarios where conventional residential electricity tariffs and PV-generated power reach parity within the next 10 years in most regions in Brazil.