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The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) targets 30% of electricity generation in the United States to come from solar power by 2030. One such application that’s gaining traction is the solar carport.
Solar installation companies looking to expand their operations should consider adding solar carports to their list of photovoltaic (PV) installation services. With solar panel prices staying low and electric vehicle (EV) sales rising, demand for solar panel carports will only increase in the coming years.
In this article, we’ll walk through what a carport with solar panels is, how it works, and its advantages and disadvantages.
What Is A Solar Carport?
A solar carport is a covered parking area with a canopy made from solar PV panels. They make efficient use of space because they allow for vehicle parking and solar energy generation on the same parcel. Increasingly, solar canopies are being combined with electric vehicle (EV) chargers to allow EV charging with renewable energy.
Sometimes, residential carports are designed for a single parking spot – like in driveways. Other times, commercial solar carports might be strung together in a series to cover entire parking lots. Either way, solar power carport owners benefit from low-cost clean energy, while also providing shade and protection for vehicles.
Some companies offer DIY solar carport kits that homeowners can assemble and install themselves. These residential solar carport systems allow handy homeowners to save money on installation costs.
How Does A Solar Carport Work?
Unlike traditional rooftop solar installations, ground-mounted PV systems rely on tilted panels installed several feet above the ground. Solar carport structures use a ground-mounted model – except that the solar panels are installed higher off the ground to provide enough clearance for parked vehicles. Carports with solar panels are used in both residential and commercial applications, from single-family homes to large corporate campuses.
Solar PV carports offer another option for homes and businesses that want to install solar panels, but are limited by the following:
Excessive shading from trees and buildings
Chimneys, vents, and gables limit the space for solar panels
Small roofs
Improper roof orientation
How Much Does A Solar Carport Cost?
In the U.S., solar carport systems typically cost between $3.45 and $4.00 per watt, including solar panels, the carport structure, labor, wiring, and other solar equipment. Therefore, a 5-kilowatt solar carport would cost between $17,250 and $20,000 before applying the federal solar tax credit.
Residential solar carports prices tend to be more per watt than commercial solar panel carports because they are usually smaller and miss out on economies of scale. Typically, solar carports cost more than a rooftop PV system with the same capacity because of the additional cost of the carport structure.
The Pros & Cons Of Solar Panel Carports
Residential and commercial solar panel carports provide numerous advantages and disadvantages compared to rooftop and traditional ground-mounted PV systems.
Pros
Cons
Lower energy bills from solar power production
Greater material costs than most rooftop solar systems
Efficient use of space by using parking areas
More labor hours for the installation than rooftop PV arrays
Protects vehicles from the elements
Requires space for building a PV carport structure
EV-charging capabilities (optional)
Solar carport permitting challenges
More solar power capacity
Solar engineering complexity
The Benefits of a Solar Carport
Carports with solar panels offer a dual-purpose solution by providing shade for parked vehicles while generating clean, renewable energy from the sun.
1. Lower Energy Bills
Solar canopies can easily turn unused parcels into mini power plants. Like rooftop solar installations, clients can generate on-site renewable energy instead of buying power from the utility company. As a result, solar carport owners benefit from monthly electricity bill savings.
With enough installed capacity, users could even sell excess solar energy back to their electric company through incentive programs like net energy metering.
2. Efficient Use Of Space
Ground-mounted solar projects take up valuable land, with the space underneath rarely providing much additional benefit, except when combined with agrovoltaics. Similarly, the average parking lot isn’t terribly productive (even when cars are parked there).
Solar carports offer the best of both worlds – allowing users to optimize limited real estate by transforming unproductive parking spots into renewable energy-generation facilities. If more commercial solar carports are installed on parking lots, it decreases the need to convert agricultural land to solar farms.
3. Protect Vehicles From The Elements
In addition to generating low-cost clean energy, a solar carport also provides protection from inclement weather. On the hottest days of the year, solar carports help shade vehicles, resulting in more comfortable commutes for their drivers. For this reason, they are especially popular in hot, sunny climates like Southern California, New Mexico, and Arizona. Likewise, solar carports provide protection from rain, sleet, ice, hail, and snow, helping to prolong the useful life of the cars underneath.
4. EV-Charging & Solar Carports
Commercial and residential solar carports can be integrated with EV-charging infrastructure. Homeowners with carports enjoy peace of mind in knowing that their EVs are charged with renewable power and don't produce greenhouse gas emissions. Business owners who install commercial solar carports with EV chargers can have a new revenue stream and an additional amenity to offer customers.
5. Solar Power Generation
Although solar carports have a higher price tag, they can be ideal for certain applications where a rooftop solar system wouldn't have enough capacity or would be excessively shaded. Plus, solar installers can often orient the carport in the optimal direction to maximize sun radiation – and by extension, solar power generation, carbon offsets, and monthly utility bill savings.
The Disadvantages of a Solar Carport
Although they have many advantages, there are some cons to installing solar panel carports.
1. Greater Material Costs
Whereas rooftop solar projects usually have relatively modest racking system costs, carports with solar panels need a more substantial structure. The starting price of the carport is usually at least a couple thousand dollars but can be tens of thousands for larger commercial solar carports.
2. Solar Carport Installations Are More Labor Intensive
Installing solar panels on a carport usually requires more time than completing a rooftop PV project. This is especially true if the solar installation crew is less familiar with assembling carports and mounting the solar panels on them.
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3. Space Requirements for Solar Panel Carports
Although not all rooftops are well suited for solar panels, not all properties are well suited for carports. Finding available space for a carport can be especially difficult in urban locations where land is limited. For this reason, commercial solar carports on parking lots are especially appealing.
4. Challenging Solar Carport Design & Engineering
Solar carports create unique challenges for the solar design and engineering process. It is essential that the carport is structurally sound and able to handle the necessary wind and snow loads. Often, a structural engineer is needed to ensure the carport is robust enough, with groundwork to properly secure the structure.
The GreenLancer team is skilled in creating solar plan sets and offers a variety of solar engineering design services for PV installers. Our network, which can provide coverage in all 50 states, includes professional engineering firms that specialize in solar and are licensed and insured in the states where they operate.
5. Solar Carport Permitting Can Be Difficult
Obtaining permits for solar carports can be a complex process, involving considerations for both parking structures and energy infrastructure. However, the exact solar permitting requirements vary depending on the AHJ and local zoning and regulations. Engineering stamps are often required for PV carports, especially commercial solar carports.
Incentives For Solar Carport Installations
Homeowners can qualify for the federal solar tax credit for a residential solar carport, which can reduce the total cost of the project by 30%. Some states also offer incentives for solar carports, including rebates and tax credits, so be sure to research state, local, and utility solar incentives. For the 5kW carport system we outlined above, this could mean savings of around $6,000 if the homeowner qualifies for the federal solar tax credit.
Some commercial solar carport installations could qualify for the 30% investment tax credit and bonus depreciation. In addition, some states have SREC markets for additional income from the solar parking canopy.
Solar Carport Manufacturers
There are several companies that specialize in solar carport structures.
This company specializes in solar structures for commercial and utility-scale solar projects and offers a range of additional accessories, such as GaskeX waterproofing, EV mounting, lighting, battery storage, and custom coatings. Kern Solar Structures prides itself on a quick installation process, with an average install time of 5 days per solar carport structure.
These solar carport kits are available for both residential and commercial solar PV installations. Their pre-assembled components and durable design ensure quick installation, making them a good choice for aluminum alloy and carbon steel solar carports for parking areas.
This company offers a variety of solar mounting systems, including residential and commercial solar carports, that are compatible with most solar modules. The company offers a 10-year durability warranty on its solar carports, which offer little maintenance.
Can a Solar Carport Charge an Electric Car?
Yes, a solar carport can be designed to charge an electric vehicle. A solar carport is a structure with solar panels on the roof, and serves the dual purpose of providing shelter for vehicles while generating electricity from the sun. The solar panels on the carport roof can be connected to an electric car charging station, allowing the generated solar energy to charge the electric vehicle.
Is a Solar Carport and a Solar Canopy the Same Thing?
The terms "solar carport" and "solar canopy" are often used interchangeably, and in many contexts, they refer to the same or very similar structures. Both a solar carport and solar canopy typically involve a covered structure with solar panels, serving the dual purpose of providing shelter or shade for parked vehicles and generating solar energy.
While there might be some nuanced differences in design or usage in certain contexts, these terms are often used synonymously to describe solar-integrated structures that offer both parking and solar power generation capabilities.
Is A Solar Panel Carport Structure Worth It?
Solar parking canopies are growing in popularity, but they aren’t for everyone because they are often more expensive. Therefore, your clients may be better off with a conventional rooftop solar installation or traditional ground-mounted solar panels, provided their home or business has sufficient space and the right orientation.
However, solar power carports are an increasingly affordable option that delivers several important benefits. With demand on the rise, adding solar carports to your renewable energy services is a great way to attract more business and scale up your operations.
GreenLancer can help your business find the best sites for solar carport installations, provide solar permitting services, and get engineering seals of approval. Work with us to bring scale, speed, and efficiency to your next solar energy project by making it easier to pass carport inspections and permitting requirements.
If you park in one of several commuter lots on Michigan State University's campus, you'll likely score a covered parking spot. That's because each parking lot is sheltered from the sun, snow and rain by solar panels. They're mounted above the lot on steel structures tall enough for tailgaters in RVs to park beneath. Besides providing a more pleasant parking experience, the university gets cheaper, cleaner solar energy from the solar panels.
It's a great thing to not have to scrape your car free of snow in 20-degree weather. I know, because I was a commuting student at Michigan State for two years and gladly took advantage of the covered parking.
So why don't all parking lots have solar panels over them? We need to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels to avoid the worst effects of global warming. And, as extreme weather becomes more common, shade and shelter from downpours would be a welcome development for drivers.
Can solar panels save you money?
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Each solar panel installation has a different energy and financial evaluation. Rooftop and ground-mounted solar panels produce differently based on their latitude and the angle they're installed at. Parking lot owners may forego solar panels for reasons including cost and inconvenience. However, some solar experts think increased interest in sustainability (90% of Americans wanted more solar farms in 2020, according to Pew) could mean more solar parking lots are headed our way.
For many homeowners, installing solar panels will save them money in the long run. The same is true for large institutions.
Michigan State estimated the parking lot panels (located over five lots) would save $10 million over 25 years. The university gets the electricity from the panels under a power purchase agreement, which means it doesn't own the panels but agrees to purchase the power. It saves by getting the power for a lower price than from an alternative source.
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While the economics of a power purchase agreement are a bit different, for the company that absorbs the construction costs, building elsewhere would be a better deal.
"A carport is roughly 40% more expensive compared to a ground mount system," said Tim Powers, a research and policy associate for Inovateus Solar, the company that built Michigan State's system. It costs more because of extra materials (it takes taller, stronger structures to get solar panels that far off the ground), extra labor (it takes longer to build) and extra engineering costs, he said.
If the only motivation is getting solar for the cheapest possible price, carports aren't the way to go. But there are other reasons an institution might adopt solar in their parking lots.
Michigan State's carports have won national and state awards, and account for 5% of the energy consumption on campus -- a step towards the university's sustainability goals and a nice round of good publicity. Several people I interviewed for this story suggested it might make the university more attractive to incoming students, though empirical evidence of the impact of a school's sustainability on a student choosing it is harder to find.
Recent research suggested that while 65% of consumers (not necessarily students) said they were interested in buying sustainable or green products, only 26% actually did so. While shopping habits and college choice might seem like apples and oranges, carport solar panels and green consumerism could be a perfect match where you get your literal apples and oranges.
The threat of climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions rapidly. While many of the problems require systemic solutions, individuals are adopting green technology, like rooftop solar panels and electric cars, at accelerating rates. On top of the green benefits, both solar panels and electric vehicles are likely to save money over time. It's possible that stores with big parking lots could take economic advantage of both.
For example, a solar carport covering an average Walmart parking lot would have a capacity of about 3.1 megawatts, said Joshua Pearce, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Western University in London, Ontario.
Pearce modeled the viability of solar carports at big box stores, choosing Walmart for its ubiquity. The chain has also made public commitments to sustainability and is one of the leading corporations in solar capacity installed. Walmart says it has 600 onsite renewable energy installations, but didn't share information about planned or installed parking lot solar canopies. It has reportedly installed at least seven throughout California.
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While it's hard to say if someone would opt for one retailer over another because of the environmental messaging of a large, visible solar array, would they if it meant parking out of the sun, snow or rain?
Pearce has a hunch they might, though his research hasn't looked at this question directly. He thinks stores might attract even more customers by providing discounted or free electric vehicle charging to shoppers.
An average Walmart parking lot could support about 100 electric vehicle chargers if covered in solar panels, Pearce's research found.
"I believe that if you're given free parking underneath the canopy that can charge your electric vehicle, you'll spend a little bit more time in the store because you're going to wait for it to get charged," he said. "Even if you only buy one thing, that will be a net profit for the store."
Pearce is looking to investigate this hunch in the near future by seeing what happens when charging is actually provided. Do nonelectric vehicles park there? Do people spend longer in the store?
In a future with free electric charging at Walmart (or another big-box store), shoppers could return home not just with their shopping haul but with more charge in their vehicle than when they left. According to a study by Pearce and a colleague, 90% of Americans live within 15 miles of a Walmart, and a one-hour shopping trip could provide a car with 20 miles of charge.
Solar panels and electric vehicle charging could be a useful pairing.
"This means that for many shoppers with an EV, the trip to Walmart and back would potentially have zero automobile-related energy costs," the researchers wrote.
While a world in which stores charge their customers' electric vehicles for free and make more money in the process sounds great, it's still hypothetical at this point.
There are hurdles to overcome, especially in retrofitting an existing parking lot with a solar canopy. It involves closing off parts of the parking lot while construction occurs, which potentially makes a store a more inconvenient choice, at least for a time.
Pearce echoed what Powers from Inovateus said: Accounting just for installation cost, right now it makes more sense to install on the store's roof than a solar farm on open ground.
"But then, if I don't want to take additional land, maybe I'm land constrained for some reason, then the parking lot is the way to go," Pearce said.
"We see doing the carports in the parking lots as a great dual-use story," said Tyler Kanczuzewski, vice president of sustainability for Inovateus. Dual-use refers to the practice of using land for two things, for example, solar power and growing crops.
According to a study published in Nature, large-scale solar in the US is largely sited outside of cities, with 51% of it installed in deserts, 33% on farmland and 2.5% in urban areas.
Solar panels provide shade and power on a hot sunny day.
Land use decisions are often fraught. Putting solar in deserts raises cultural and ecological concerns. Rural solar farms have stirred debates. Michigan State's installation kept 45 acres of agricultural land in production, a fact Michigan State called out in promoting one of the several awards it won for the array.
Parking lots, on the other hand, are mainly good for one thing -- parking -- and solar canopies arguably improve that experience.
Will increasing interest in sustainability make solar parking lots more common in the future?
"It's hard to project," Kanczuzewski said. While they're more common in the Southwest, installing solar over parking lots isn't terribly common in the Midwest where Inovateus does most of its business. By solar capacity, 95% of Inovateus's installations are ground-mounted utility projects. By number of projects, 65% are ground-mounted, 30% are rooftop and about 5% (just three projects total) are over parking lots.
"They're not a terribly common option," Powers said.
They could be a particularly sustainable one, though.
"I think it's super sustainable," Kanczuzewski said. "Rather than taking up new land or additional property, why not take an existing space and do solar?"
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