Should You Install a Solar Carport?
By now, nearly everyone is familiar with rooftop solar panel arrays in various neighborhoods and on some commercial properties. However, one form of solar setup is becoming more common due to its innovative design. Solar carports are just what they sound like: Carports with solar panels attached that allow the owners to generate energy they can use, store, or sell. We’ll break down what you need to know about installing a solar carport.
How Does a Solar Carport Work?
Solar carports operate on the same principles as more common types of solar arrays, including rooftop or ground-mounted. Solar carports can be custom-built, and in many cases, you can install solar panels on an existing structure if the installer determines it meets the necessary criteria.
The greatest advantage carports have over roof-mounted solar energy systems is that the array will not be restricted to the fixed angle of a roof. That means you may be able to use the same number of panels to generate more energy than you would on a pitched roof, as you can adjust the angle to optimize sun exposure.
Residential Solar Carports
For homeowners, the main benefit of a solar carport is to make use of space that would otherwise go wasted, while generating more power to run their home. Adding solar panels to an existing structure is a popular retrofit that can increase the home’s value, and having a new solar carport constructed is another way to add value and function without the cost of constructing a new garage.
Commercial Solar Carports
Solar carports on commercial properties offer the same benefits in terms of power generation and energy savings, but there are also a couple of advantages unique to businesses. Customers appreciate covered parking, especially when it’s aggressively hot or there are weather conditions like snow and rain. Customers also tend to have more interest in companies that are good stewards of the environment, which solar panels clearly imply. Additionally, setting up solar panels on covered parking opens up opportunities to add further amenities that require electricity, such as charging stations for the convenience of electric vehicle owners.
Go Solar With Simply Solar
Simply Solar is here to help make the process of adding solar to your home or business easier than ever. As a leading solar provider in California, our team specializes in custom solar arrays. Plus, if you’re interested in a residential or commercial solar carport in California, there’s excellent news. Just like any other solar panel project, you can claim 30% of the cost of installing a solar carport thanks to the investment tax credit included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Together with local California incentives, you can save thousands on the cost of a new solar carport all while reaping the benefits.
To learn more about the benefits of solar carports and having one or more installed in California, turn to Simply Solar. We even have a recent solar carport installation project in Windsor, CA you can check out on our website! Call us today at (707) 285-7037 or contact us online for more information.
Solar Carport Mounting System: Simplified and Economical Solutions
As electric vehicles progressively replace conventional vehicles, solar carport becomes more popular, not only because it can provide shade to our cars, but also because it can generate electricity and charge for electric vehicles.
As one of the most perfect ways to combine photovoltaic and architecture, the solar carport has been favored by people in recent years. It is widely used in residential and commercial buildings. We can see it in family, hospital, school, factory and business district, etc.
Common Scenarios for Photovoltaic Carports
Residential Solar Canopy
The scale of residential solar carport is often relatively small, generally only one or two parking spaces, and most people who will install residential solar canopy are owners of EVs, since they can use them as a parking spot and a charging station. Also, some homeowners who do not want to install solar panels on the roof or on the ground should not beexcluded-either because they don’t want to destroy their roof, or because they want the maintenance easier, in these situations, a solar carport installation is an excellent option.
Commercial PV Carport
Commercial buildings such as malls, supermarkets, shopping centers and electric vehicle charging stations have seen an increasing number of PV carports.
Compared to residential solar canopy, commercial PV carport has many features as follows:
Based on the property’s unique location and size, the commercial solar carport system needs to be custom designed.2. It often has a large scale and turns an underutilized space into a financial benefit.3. Payback period of 5 to 20 years.4. The target return on investment for a cash purchase is approximately 10%-20% per year.5. Commercial carport solar provides consumers and their vehicles with valuable protection against the sun, rain, snow, and ice.
Advantages of commercial solar carport:
Reduce your business operating costs.2. Solar carport system gives you a great return on investment.3. Sustainability benefits.4. Provide shading for vehicles.5. value for aesthetics.
Solar panels are mounted on top of the carport, which looks like a normal carport from the outside, to protect the vehicle from the sun and rain. Many solar carports also come with in-built electric vehicle (EV) charging stations so that drivers can top up their batteries when not using their cars.
So How Much Does a Solar Panel Carport Cost?
A solar panel canopy is mainly composed of solar carport mounting systems, solar panels, solar inverters, charging devices and wires, etc.
For aluminum commercial solar carport structure, the price is range from 1.2-1.8/watt on Alibaba. And the price will be different depending on your quantity and material.
For the panels, which range from 0.19-0.26/watt for 530w 540w monocrystalline solar panels (Alibaba).
Please note that this price is only for your reference. If you want a detailed quotation based on your carport, you can contact us, and we will quote for you within 1 day if you provide your project information as specific as possible.
The Benefits of PV Carports
Is a residential or commercial solar carport worth it? You can refer to their advantages and disadvantages below:
Advantages of Photovoltaic Carports
Reduced power costs: owners can generate their own clean electricity on site instead of buying power from the utility company to reduce power costs. In addition, they can also sell extra electricity to get more money.2. Make full use of the space: install solar panels on solar carport is a perfect way to make full use of the valuable real estate.3. Good for vehicles: further to producing electricity for their owners, solar carports also offer protection from extremely weather like rain, snow, sun, and wind, etc., helping to prolong the useful lifetimes of the vehicle’s underneath.4. Provide EV-Charging: by integrating with the EV charging solution, the solar carport can not only shade our vehicles, but also charge our electric vehicles. This is very convenient for owners of EVs.5. Bring more investment benefits
Disadvantages of Photovoltaic Carports
The initial cost of installing a solar carport is higher than installing the same-size rooftop or ground-mounted solar system2. Space requirement3. Maintenance cost
To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of PV carports click here.
Conclusion
The advantages can easily outweigh the disadvantages. Many organizations choose to integrate lighting and electric vehicle charging stations to provide even more convenience and security. So, take all these factors into account, if you are valuating your installation option, you may decide that solar carports provide a positive impact that goes well beyond long-term energy savings.
Solar carports solutions can protect vehicles from the sun and generate renewable energy from your parking areas.
Advanced Green Technologies is a commercial solar contractor that specializes in solar carport construction solutions with extensive experience building projects located in high-wind zone areas like Florida. Solar carports are a great solution for protecting vehicles from the hot Florida sun and generating renewable energy from your parking lots or garage.
We are the best contractor for solar carports and canopy structures in Florida. We take a single point of responsibility for the entire project starting with feasibility studies and engineering, to fabrication and installation. Our approach allows us to streamline your project and provide you with a fist in class renewable energy solution that we know you will be satisfied with.
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Top Considerations for Installing a Commercial Solar Carport
Does your business suffer from restrictions like insufficient roof space when installing solar panels? If yes, solar carports can help. Learn more about solar carports in this article, including what they are, how they operate, and how to find the best deals.
There is no denying that the solar energy industry is booming right now, with new businesses popping up everywhere. Chances are you have come across commercial solar systems for businesses, whether because you were actively looking into the advantages of solar energy or you spent any time on social media only to be inundated with solar advertising.
Solar energy is still an option even when installing rooftop solar panels is not the best course of action for a commercial enterprise. Solar panel carports are an emerging trend that businesses can use to leverage the space that covers a parking area.
Commercial parking lots are perfect for receiving solar energy since they are typically vast and open. Businesses can still benefit from solar energy by building solar panel carports over parking spaces. Find out if a solar panel carport is the best option for your company by reading about it.
Without installing solar panels on your roof, a solar carport could be a terrific method to acquire solar energy for your commercial property. Solar carports can shade people and vehicles while producing energy from the sun. While most solar systems are put on roofs, parking lots can also be a fantastic location for businesses to install a photovoltaic system and produce renewable energy.
What Is A Commercial Solar Carport?
A carport is a roof supported by beams or posts to protect the vehicles in the parking from harsh weather. Solar carports have solar panels that cover the carport’s roof to capture solar energy and convert it into energy for your business.
They can occasionally be set up to utilize sunlight more effectively than many roof-mounted solar systems. They employ a comparable technology to standard rooftop business solar panels. The energy generated by the solar panels is transformed into alternating current and added to the grid’s electricity supply.
Solar panel carports can provide convenient charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) and shield automobiles from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and bad weather.
How Does a Commercial Solar Carport Work?
It is possible to convert your existing carport into a commercial solar carport. A solar carport is a taller version of a solar array attached to the ground. The solar panels will serve as the new structure’s roof, eliminating the need for one.
Solar carports employ the same solar energy technology as a regular ground- or rooftop-mounted system. When exposed to sunlight, carports transform photons into energy, which is then used to produce voltage or electric current in a photovoltaic cell. It is frequently referred to as the photovoltaic effect.
Although most solar carports are grid-connected, some freestanding off-grid solutions are also available. These also go by the name of solar canopies. Parking lots and other paved areas are frequently used as the location for solar canopies. Bifacial solar panels, which catch the light reflected from the ground, are another option.
Critical Considerations for a Commercial Solar Carport
Carport Size
When choosing the size of your carport, it is essential to strike a balance between installation costs, available space, and the amount of electricity you can produce. Overall, larger carports are more expensive to install, but the price per watt drops as size increases since some installation expenses are set and unaffected by the size of the system.
You should also consider how many panels broad your solar arrays for the carport will be. About one row of parking is covered by three solar panels placed together. Two parking rows can be covered by seven solar panels that are placed as one carport structure.
You can choose the optimum configuration based on your parking lot and energy requirements.
Clearance – The Space is below Your Solar Carport
When designing your solar panel carport with a solar contractor, you should consider how much space there is beneath the panels. The carport structure’s clearance needs to be high enough for equipment and cars to pass easily underneath. Making it too high, though, could unnecessarily drive up the price of your project.
Depending on the kind of cars you anticipate parking beneath the solar canopy, you will need to choose the ideal clearance height for your property. Businesses should aim for a deck height of at least 14 feet if they regularly expect heavy trucks and delivery vehicles to pass underneath.
A shorter carport might be an option for companies that primarily deal with vehicles and small trucks. Fire trucks and ambulances, which have higher clearance needs than small cars or trucks, might need passage around the carports.
Decking: Controlling Water Runoff
The primary advantage of a solar carport is the generation of cost-free, healthy electricity for your residence or business. However, there is one perk: easy-covered parking.
Cars and persons can be protected from the elements, such as the sweltering sun, rain, and snow, with the help of a solar panel canopy. However, you must install your carport system with decking to truly protect people underneath.
Decking, frequently composed of metal, is fastened to the vertical beams to create a sturdy roof. The solar panels are then fastened to the decking and mounted on the mounting structure. This sturdy coating prevents rain and water runoff from falling on the vehicles and people below. Depending on how the carport structure is laid out, it may have an additional cost, ranging from 0.20 to 0.25 per watt.
You can omit the decking and install the solar panels directly to the mounting framework, similar to how you would install them on a ground mount solar system, to cut expenses as much as feasible.
However, small gaps between the panels will allow water to puddle on persons and vehicles below. Additionally, melted snow will also fall if snow accumulation occurs. Downspouts or water management systems are additional options to consider. These components will aid in directing water away from the solar canopies and toward the proper drainage area.
You might be able to skip these if your carport is positioned so that the water drains and falls in a location that will not obstruct traffic. But the majority of medium- to large-scale carports make use of them.
Snow Guards: Preventing Snow Slides
You should consider adding snow guards to your solar carport if you reside in a region of the country where winters are predicted to be snowy.
The solar panels get covered in snow when it snows. This decreases their ability to generate electricity. Solar panels are therefore made to quickly warm up and shed this snow, exposing them to sunlight. Therefore, you will not need to physically wipe the snow off your panels.
What is excellent for your electricity bill is not suitable for those who use the walkways beneath the carports. Anyone strolling underneath may be at risk if the snow is allowed to fall off the panels in thick sheets.
Snow guards are helpful in this situation. These additions will stop significant snowfalls, protecting individuals below who are walking or driving.
Snow guards are always advised in places where snowfall is possible. The snow falling off the panels would land in the grass or another area where no one would be hurt. You might be able to avoid this if your carport installation is close to the border of your parking lot.
Lighting: Keeping Things Bright
A solar carport structure will render your current light posts obsolete if they are not already. However, providing adequate lighting for you and anyone who parks in your lot is still critical. Replacing old, ineffective lights with LED lights could be a significant additional benefit of a carport renovation.
Lighting can be installed under the carport to keep the parking areas well-lit and secure. This is critical if you are installing a larger solar carport system that will span two or more rows of parking spaces.
You might not need to install lights beneath a small carport that only covers one row of parking spaces.
What Are the Advantages of Commercial Solar Carports?
Commercial solar carports offer several benefits for your business. Here are the top advantages of installing a commercial solar carport.
Efficient Space Usage
No additional space is required to construct a carport; instead, an already existing area can be used to increase productivity and visitor, customer, and employee comfort.
In rainy and stormy weather, a carport can protect vehicles from the sun and keep them from overheating. Solar carports can help improve vehicle fuel economy by providing shade to keep cars from overheating in the sun.
Protection
Solar carports give businesses access to solar energy and a safe place to park their cars. For instance, the carport will shield the vehicle from the elements during bad weather, such as snow or sweltering sun rays.
On particularly hot days, the cool shades shield the automobile from the heat, perhaps saving on gasoline. What else? Carports can help collect rainwater apart from providing shade.
Better Power Generation
Another benefit is the installation angle of a solar carport above a conventional solar panel system. The amount of sunlight exposure, which affects energy output, is significantly impacted by the installation angle of solar panels.
There are restrictions on how much the panels can be tilted or even how they can be fastened for roof installations. On the other hand, solar carports are flexible and can be constructed to maximize energy output and exposure.
Coldwell Solar – Your One-Stop Solution for Commercial Solar Systems
Solar carports are a desirable choice due to their better efficiency. Suppose you value a cleaner, more comfortable car, clear windscreens, and the extra benefit of renewable energy. In that case, a solar carport is one of the best multi-purpose infrastructure improvements money can buy.
Like rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels, solar carports absorb photons from the sun and convert them into useful electrons. These electrons are then sent to an inverter, where they are transformed into AC electricity for use in the grid.
Solar carports stand out due to their versatility, which offers clean energy while protecting your car and freeing up space. Get in touch with Coldwell Solar for further guidance and top-notch commercial solar services.
US developers finish solar carport at recreational vehicle resort in California
DSD Renewables and Black Bear Energy have installed 3,500 solar panels on vehicle canopies at a campground in southern California. Yale University researchers say that carports could meet about one-third of the US state’s total electricity demand.
Image: Thousans Trails
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DSD Renewables and Black Bear Energy have announced the completion of a 1.5 MW solar project in Menifee, California, at the Wilderness Lakes campground. They mounted the solar arrays on parking canopies.
The facility is expected to generate 2.4 million kWh of energy per year, in order to meet about 50% of the total energy use at the campground. The site has more than 500 RV campsites and other facilities.
The United States has roughly 2 billion parking spots. If 25% of those parking spots were fitted with 2.88 kW (DC) per spot, the capacity would reach 1.44 TW in total. Assuming a lower-than-average generation capacity factor of 15%, due to the sub-optimal angling of the panels, these solarized parking spots would generate 1.89 petawatt-hours (PWh) of electricity. The total electrical consumption of the United States is currently around 4 PWh per year.
In late 2022, California Senator Josh Becker submitted new legislation to facilitate the installation of solar carports in California via a tax incentive. The SB 49 bill will “provide tax incentives for the construction of solar canopies over large parking lots to boost the local generation of clean electricity in urban and suburban areas, while reducing the need for dedicated land in rural areas and transmission to deliver the clean energy into population centers.”
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Becker said that California’s energy agencies estimate that the state needs about 110 GW of new solar power to meet its 100% clean-energy target by 2045. A Yale University study suggests that carports could meet about one-third of the state’s total electricity demand.
Some US states have already introduced incentives for solar carports, by offsetting the additional costs of steel, installation, and grid connection. These additional costs would normally add as much as 1 per watt versus the price of a typical commercial rooftop installation. The Smart program in Massachusetts, for instance, offers a 0.06/kWh incentive for 20 years for solar canopies.
Built-environment PV projects such as carports and vertical PV arrays on highways are increasingly growing in popularity across Europe. In late 2022, France passed a law that makes solar carports mandatory for all parking lots greater than 1,500 square meters.
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Ryan Kennedy
Ryan joined pv magazine in 2021, bringing experience from a top residential solar installer, and a U. S.