A solar carport is a freestanding, engineered canopy structure installed over parking spaces that holds solar panels on its roof. It provides shade for parked vehicles while the panels generate electricity for the building, the grid, or on-site EV chargers.
Solar Carport Canopies That Shade and Generate at Once
Turn unused parking real estate into a dual-purpose asset, structural steel canopies that shield vehicles from extreme heat while generating solar power, with optional integrated EV charging beneath the same structure.
Structural & Electrical Engineering Included
What is a solar carport?
A solar carport is a freestanding, engineered canopy structure installed over parking spaces that holds solar panels on its roof. It provides shade for parked vehicles while the panels generate electricity for the building, the grid, or on-site EV chargers.
Parking Lots Are an Underused Energy Asset
Large parking areas at malls, offices, and hotels sit exposed to direct sun for most of the day, heating vehicle interiors and asphalt while generating no value from that sun exposure. Rooftop solar alone often cannot fit enough capacity for a large commercial site.
A solar carport reclaims that space. The canopy structure is engineered for both wind and snow/dust loading requirements and vehicle clearance, and can be phased to add EV charging points beneath specific bays without re-engineering the whole structure.
System Architecture
- Structural Steel Canopy over Parking Bays
- Solar PV Modules (Canopy Roof)
- Inverter & Combiner Panel
- Building Grid Tie-In or Battery Storage
- Optional EV Charger Feed to Bay-Level Chargers
System Components
Engineered Canopy Structure
Galvanized steel framework rated for local wind loads and vehicle clearance heights.
For any ground-mounted parking installation.
High-Output Solar Modules
Panels optimized for the canopy's tilt angle to maximize generation per parking bay.
Core generation component of every carport system.
Integrated EV Charging Feed
Pre-wired conduit and panel capacity for adding chargers beneath specific bays.
For sites planning to roll out EV charging alongside solar.
Ideal Applications
Shopping Malls
Large surface parking converted into shaded, revenue-generating solar assets.
Corporate Campuses
Employee parking paired with workplace EV charging under the same canopy.
Hotels & Resorts
Guest parking shade as an amenity, with solar offsetting facility load.
Hospitals & Universities
Large institutional lots suited to phased canopy and charging rollouts.
Deployment Process
1. Assess
Survey parking layout, bay count, and structural ground conditions.
2. Analyse
Model solar yield potential and canopy footprint against site constraints.
3. Design
Engineer the canopy structure, electrical routing, and EV charger provisions.
4. Configure
Finalize inverter sizing, grid tie-in point, and permitting documentation.
5. Procure and Deploy
Construct the canopy and commission the solar and charging systems.
6. Monitor and Optimise
Track generation output and plan phased EV charger expansion.
Information We Need
- Number and layout of parking bays
- Ground/soil conditions for footing design
- Local wind load and structural code requirements
- Existing electrical infrastructure and grid connection point
- Plans for future EV charger integration
- Vehicle clearance height requirements
Frequently Asked
Request a Solar Carport Feasibility Study
Gletscher Energy will review your project requirements and recommend the next technical planning step.
- Engineering review of submitted details
- Initial feasibility assessment
- Direct consultation booking