Leveraging potential of large scale mixed-use green certified projects for adoption of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) in the Global South

The shift in urban electricity consumption from industry to high rise commercial buildings has created both a challenge and a significant opportunity for adoption of photovoltaics into building envelopes that can support this demand through decentralized renewable energy generation. Among others, the most promising solutions is Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). BIPV embed solar technologies directly into the fabric of buildings, particularly facades and glazing, turning passive surfaces into active energy generators. BIPV not only addresses the spatial limitations of traditional rooftop solar in high-density cities, but also enhances architectural value, thermal performance, and long-term energy resilience. Despite global advancements, the adoption of BIPV in the Global South remains limited due to fragmented policy support, lack of awareness, and minimal integration into large-scale urban planning efforts. However, the rise of mixed-use, green-certified developments and modular construction methods provides a unique and scalable opportunity to mainstream BIPV from the design stage onward. This paper explores the current global status of BIPV, highlights the untapped potential of BIPV adoption in the context of large-scale projects in the Global South, and examines the role of green building certification systems in enabling or hindering adoption. It also outlines the multifaceted challenges—technological, regulatory, and social; and identifies the need for a holistic framework for integrating BIPV within future-ready, high-performance buildings across rapidly urbanizing tropical regions.