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

Solar carports have established themselves in recent years as an electricity-generating roofing solution for private and commercial areas. Above all, more and more companies are increasingly relying on this climate-friendly, environmentally friendly and at the same time economical solution to increase their own energy supply.

Solar power is the future - and not just since climate change. Because solar energy is environmentally friendly and sustainable. With a solar carport you can kill two birds with one stone: you protect your fleet from weather influences such as rain, snow or hail and at the same time produce electricity that can either be used for your own consumption or fed back into the general electricity circuit.

Solar roofing increases the functionality of parking areas and consolidates the potential into an economic advantage. Installing a photovoltaic system on a carport is a good way to increase electricity yield. Carports with solar roofs also offer optimal protection from the weather and are therefore particularly suitable for the installation of photovoltaic systems. This offers companies temporary and flexible weather-protected storage options should problems arise when storing and retrieving deliveries.

Carport with solar roof Electricity yield – different seasons and weather constellations – Image: Xpert.Digital

This table shows the approximate power production of a solar roof for available charging energy in different seasons and weather conditions. This corresponds to an average daily mileage of 30 km for a commuter vehicle or an associated amount of energy of 6 kWh.

When the weather is nice in spring, a PV site can generate 10 kWh of solar power and charge an electric vehicle for 50 km. That's 167% of the average daily mileage. On the other hand, on cloudy winter days only 7% of the required 6 kWh of charging energy can be generated, resulting in a range of only 2 km with PV electricity. On theoretical average, 91.5% of vehicles can be charged via the solar roof in a year. The distribution of solar power generation over a day fits perfectly with the parking times of employees with “working hours”.

Solar yield of the model parking lot depending on the season and weather and possible number of electric vehicles that can be charged with 6 kWh or 44 kWh.

A covered individual parking space with 12.5 m2 PV area and 2.5 kWp output, target daily charge of the connected electric vehicle: 6 kWh (30 km). No charging losses are taken into account.

Model parking lot, 100 parking spaces with solar roof – Image: Xpert.Digital

On a cloudy spring day, you can fully charge 6 electric cars or drive 42 electric cars 30 km on solar energy.

Based on the average daily mileage of a car, the required charging energy is predominantly supplied by the solar roof.

In a few years, the solar power generated will no longer be enough to charge a connected electric car on cloudy days if the share of electric vehicles continues to grow as before.

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

With a carport system with a fixed base, you can expect high solar power production and increased comfort through permanent shading. Owners of electric vehicles also benefit from the charging station, as the required cables and the charging station can be easily attached to the base frame.

The advantage is the modular structure of the carport system, with which the roof can be adapted to almost any parking space, which ensures long-term good utilization and scalability of the parking space.

Light transmission in solar carports can be achieved through bifacial and partially transparent solar modules. Visually, this is very interesting, and the corresponding PV modules can also use the light from below, which can lead to 10-20% more electricity generation. Currently, double-sided technology is rarely used due to the supposedly high module price and has not always been cost-effective. “However, the technology is expected to become established in the next few years,” says the “De Lorean Power” feasibility study.

In fact, this is already possible with the modular and scalable 4+2+ solar carport system, where translucent, partially transparent and bifacial solar modules are used!

More about it here:

• The solar carport 4-pillar technology – the 4+2+ column system

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”.

More about it here:

• Studies confirm the cost-effectiveness of solar carports

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.

• De Lorean Power Feasibility Study – Study of industrial and commercial parking spaces for the production of renewable energy