Carport with solar roof: Studies confirm the cost-effectiveness and great potential of solar parking spaces - our solar carport with transparent solar modules is included!

“Projects on large parking areas are particularly suitable,” says the “InfraSolaire” study from Switzerland: “Solar electricity on infrastructure systems and conversion areas”.

Electric vehicles must be parked and charged at locations with solar power. The 'De Lorean Power' (Marco Rüegg) feasibility study (author: Björn Brugger, Project B) confirmed great potential and showed why solar parking spaces need to be promoted.

Solar parking spaces are already being promoted in various German and Austrian federal states; in Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, solar roofs are mandatory for medium and large parking spaces.

Another independent study from Germany examined the economic viability of solar parking spaces. The results are promising: solar parking lots can be economical for both parking lot operators and environmentalists.

The study comes to the conclusion that solar parking spaces are definitely economical. The reason is that the cost of installing solar panels has fallen significantly in recent years. At the same time, fossil fuel prices continue to rise. This trend will continue in the coming years and thus further improve the economic viability of solar parking spaces.

But investing in such a parking lot is not only worthwhile for parking operators; it also offers great advantages for environmentalists. Because every kilowatt hour that is produced with the help of photovoltaic products reduces CO₂ emissions. In this way, solar parking spaces contribute to achieving the federal government's climate goals.

A study by 'De Lorean Power' found that employees' parking behavior ideally corresponds to the amount of solar power generated. The daily mileage of the electric vehicle can be covered in almost any weather and the excess can be fed into the grid. The annual solar power generation in the parking lot corresponds to the vehicle's energy needs. Solar parking spaces have the greatest potential for generating electricity of all infrastructure areas. There are approximately 2 parking spaces available for each registered car in Switzerland. In available regions, it can generate over 10 terawatt hours of solar power per year (15% of current electricity consumption). “It is astonishing how few pilot plants there are,” say the authors of the study. In addition, such a roof protects the car from the elements and reduces the heat of the car in summer.

According to an evaluation by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Switzerland has at least 5 million above-ground parking spaces (6,400 hectares) with around 4.7 million registered cars. These parking areas were recorded using a digital process that only recognizes larger adjacent areas and not individual parking spaces. Traffic experts therefore expect 8 to 10 million parking spaces. That's about 2 per car.

According to the other study “Solar power generation for infrastructure facilities and conversion areas”, above-ground or open parking areas have the greatest PV potential of all infrastructure areas. These areas can provide up to 10 terawatt hours (TWh) of PV electricity per year. This means that the total electricity production in Switzerland is 65.5 TWh.

The average parking area is 12.5 square meters (2.5 meters x 5 meters). This is also the area that a solar roof must have. The energy yield of a PV system depends on many factors, including solar radiation, component efficiency and module orientation. In Thurgau, with 1 kW of installed PV power, around 1000 kWh of electricity can be generated per year (1000 kWh per 1 kWp).

Depending on the PV modules used, 1 kWp requires an installed capacity of 4 to 8 square meters. In this study, 5 m2 per kWp are calculated. This means that a 12.5 m2 parking space with 2.5 kWp output can be installed, which generates 2,500 kWh of solar power per year. The average Swiss household consumption is around 4,500 kWh/year (excluding heating, ventilation and electric vehicles).

The illustration in the feasibility study by 'De Lorean Power' is the solar carport XXL with 15 x M60 solar modules.

The M60 solar modules have a partial transparency of 12% with 320 Wp each and a total output of 4.8 kWp!

Important to mention: These are partially transparent and certified double-glass solar modules according to EN12600 for overhead installation.

Likewise, the 'De Lorean Power' study found the following two points:

• “The modular structure of a carport system is advantageous and you can adapt the roofing to almost any parking space, thus ensuring continued good utilization of the parking space and ensuring expandability.”
• Using bifacial modules, the carport can be made translucent . This is visually very interesting and leads to higher solar yields, as corresponding PV modules can also use light coming from below and thus deliver 10-20% additional yield. Bifacial technology is currently not used much because it is not necessarily cost-effective due to higher module prices. However, it is assumed that this technology will become established in the next few years.

In our 4+2+ modular and scalable solar carport system, where partially transparent and bifacial modules are used, these points apply and are now also a price alternative :

Solar roofing variants specifically for vehicles – Image: Xpert.Digital

More about it here:

• Numbers, data, facts: solar carport, carport with solar roof, roofing variants in comparison and model parking space with electricity yield

Limitless: Modular and scalable solar carport system for cars and trucks

Limitless: Modular and scalable solar carport system for cars and trucks

Technical data: Modular and scalable solar carport system for cars and trucks

Technical data: Modular and scalable solar carport system for cars and trucks

The advantages at a glance:

• Flexible and modular (scalable) design
• Clearance height for cars from 2.66 m (expandable to 4.5 m or more for trucks)
• Parking space depth for cars up to 6.1 m, opposite possible up to 12.5 m.
  The depth depends on the dimensions of the solar modules used
• Solar carport system is optimally designed for partially transparent solar modules
  12% / 40% light transmission (!) - With certified approval for overhead installation
• Optionally with powerful LED lighting, dimmable and with motion control
• Can also be used for parking stands with inclined positioning
• No hidden costs regarding foundations
  Use of point foundations (cheapest variant, no complex excavation of the ground for concrete slabs etc. necessary for statics) or installation with floor slabs, depending on the existing ground conditions/asphalting

Further sources:

• Ground foundation cost factor for solar carports
• Solar carports where there is no longer a standard - the optimal solution for every challenge with solar roofing for open parking spaces
• Solar carport systems: Which is the better and/or cheaper option?
• The solar carport strategy for open parking spaces
• The modular solar carport system for all applications and cases

Truck solar carport system

Due to the fact that the 4+2+ column technology is the most flexible solution (both technically and in terms of price) for a parking space roofing system, it can also be easily expanded and used for larger vehicles such as trucks with appropriate modifications.

The first studies on the economic viability of solar parking spaces were published a few years ago. These have shown that solar parking spaces are a cost-effective way to generate electricity. In recent years, further studies have confirmed the economic viability of solar parking spaces and also shown the potential for this type of energy generation.

A 2016 study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE showed that investments in solar parking spaces pay for themselves within six to eight years. The study came to the conclusion that the cost of building a solar parking lot with an area of ​​10,000 square meters is around 1.5 million euros. The annual operating costs are around 50,000 euros. At an electricity price of 12 cents per kilowatt hour, the parking lot would generate around 120,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually and thus generate around 14,400 euros in annual income. The Fraunhofer study came to the conclusion that the investment in a solar parking space pays for itself within six to eight years.

Another study published in 2017 by the consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY) confirmed the economic viability of solar parking spaces. The study examined various scenarios for the construction of solar parking spaces in Germany and came to the conclusion that the investment in a parking space with an area of ​​10,000 square meters would pay for itself within six to nine years.

The two studies clearly show that solar parking spaces are an economical way to generate electricity. In addition, they also demonstrated the potential of solar parking spaces. There are already several hundred solar parking spaces in Germany, and more are being built every year. Experts assume that the proportion of parking spaces equipped with photovoltaic systems will continue to increase in the next few years.

Industrial facilities or commercial parking spaces can be ideally used to generate renewable energy. This not only saves CO2, but companies can also participate directly in the success of the energy transition and thus strengthen their reputation.

• Media release – Study confirms great potential for solar parking spaces
• De Lorean Power Feasibility Study – Study of industrial and commercial parking spaces for the production of renewable energy
• InfraSolaire study – solar power on infrastructure systems and conversion areas