Great potential for parking PV carports in cities, communities, companies, discounters and shopping centers

Unleashing solar potential – The renaissance of PV carports in urban areas and energy-efficient solutions for companies: PV carports as a sustainable investment

A PV parking lot, also known as solar carports, undoubtedly has enormous potential in cities, towns, companies, discount stores and shopping centers. These innovative structures combine the functionality of a traditional parking lot with the ability to generate renewable solar energy. Important and interesting details about the different possible uses of PV carports are explained below:

1. Cities and towns

In metropolitan areas and urban areas, PV parking spaces can make a significant contribution to sustainable energy production. By integrating them into parking lots, parking garages or along streets, they can not only make use of unused space, but also reduce the load on the power grid. Such carports can serve as an additional source of income for public institutions such as town halls, schools, libraries and sports facilities, as the excess solar power can be fed into the grid and sold.

2. Company

Many companies have large parking areas for their employees and customers. Installing PV carports allows these businesses to generate their own energy and reduce their dependence on external energy sources. This can lead to significant cost savings while strengthening the company's image as an environmentally conscious player. In addition, companies in some regions can take advantage of government incentives and tax breaks for the use of renewable energy.

3. Discount stores and shopping centers

Supermarkets and shopping centers attract thousands of customers every day who park their vehicles in the associated parking lots. PV carport parking spaces offer an excellent opportunity to not only generate clean electricity for your own consumption, but also to generate additional income by feeding excess energy into the grid. Many customers prefer stores that are committed to renewable energy, which can have a positive impact on image and customer loyalty.

4. Environmental benefits

The spread of PV parking carports contributes significantly to reducing CO2 emissions. Since the transportation sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, using clean solar energy to power vehicles in parking garages and parking lots can have a noticeable impact on the environment. PV carports also contribute to the creation of more green spaces in urban environments as they provide the space required for solar systems without sealing additional areas.

5. Technological advancement

Photovoltaic technology has made significant progress in recent years. Increases in the efficiency of solar cells, intelligent control systems and storage technologies make PV carports even more attractive and economical. Continuous research and development in this area will further increase the performance and benefits of parking PVs in the future.

➡️ PV carports a win-win situation for cities, communities, companies, discounters and shopping centers. They promote the expansion of renewable energy and reduce the environmental impact of transport while providing financial benefits through energy savings and potential income from the sale of excess energy. Their potential as a multifunctional and sustainable infrastructure makes them a promising option for urban and rural development in the future.

Solar parking spaces are a promising way to generate renewable energy while optimizing limited space requirements in cities and urban areas. However, there are actually some challenges that can complicate the introduction of such parking spaces.

One of the biggest hurdles is the high cost and planning effort associated with installing solar panels in parking lots. Not only must the cost of the solar panels themselves be taken into account, but also the cost of the infrastructure required to connect the panels to the grid. In addition, the space required for installing the solar modules must be precisely planned and coordinated to ensure effective use of the available space.

Another obstacle are bureaucratic hurdles and approval processes that can make it difficult to install solar panels in parking lots. Depending on the region or country, different rules and regulations may apply, which can complicate the approval and implementation process.

Despite these challenges, there is high demand for solar parking spaces as they represent an effective way to promote renewable energy while optimizing space requirements in urban areas. With careful planning and collaboration between the parties involved, the hurdles can be overcome to facilitate the introduction of such parking spaces.

➡️ We specialize in providing advisory and planning support for such solar carport projects and advancing their implementation.

➡️ With our solar carport planner we simplify the process.

➡️ We are there for you for the next steps and thus minimize costs and effort for you.

Xpert.Solar solar carport planner

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• Solar carport planner

Summary: PV carports have great potential in cities, communities, companies, discount stores and shopping centers. They provide a win-win situation for various sectors by generating renewable solar energy while providing financial and environmental benefits. The most important facts are:

• Cities and communities can use PV parking spaces to generate sustainable energy and reduce the load on the power grid. Public institutions can feed excess solar power into the grid and sell it.
• Companies can install PV carports to generate their own energy and save costs. At the same time, this strengthens the company's environmentally conscious image.
• Discounters and shopping centers can generate clean electricity for their own consumption and generate additional income by feeding excess energy into the grid. Customer loyalty and a positive image are promoted.
• The proliferation of PV carports helps reduce CO2 emissions and creates more green spaces in urban environments without sealing additional areas.
• The technology of photovoltaics has developed significantly. Increases in efficiency, intelligent control systems and storage technologies make PV carports even more attractive and economical.

Facts at a glance:

• 🏙️ Cities and communities: Sustainable energy production and additional income through the sale of excess energy.
• 🏢 Company: Energy production, cost savings and environmentally conscious image.
• 🛒 Discounters and shopping centers: Clean electricity, customer loyalty and additional income.
• 🌿 Environmental benefits: CO2 reduction and creation of green spaces in urban environments.
• 🔧 Technological development: increased efficiency and intelligent control systems.

Hashtags: #PVCarports #Solar Energy #Sustainability #Environmental Protection #Technology

In Germany, we have set ourselves ambitious goals to make our energy supply more sustainable and climate-friendly. A crucial step on this path is the massive expansion of annual photovoltaic (PV) installations to 22 GW to drive decarbonization. Parking lot PV systems, i.e. PV systems in parking lots, play an important role here, as they enable us to optimally exploit the potential of renewable energies. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the benefits, challenges and latest developments in parking lot PV.

The advantages of parking lot PV

Parking lot PV offers a clever solution to use our parking spaces more efficiently while generating green energy. By installing PV modules on parking roofs, we can achieve dual land use as the existing space can still be used for parking vehicles. At the same time, sunlight is converted into environmentally friendly electricity that can be used locally or fed into the grid.

Another advantage is that the PV modules act as a roof and can therefore protect the vehicles from the elements. This is particularly beneficial in regions with changeable weather as the cars are protected from rain, snow and hail. At the same time, the modules provide shade and thus help to reduce heat development in the parking lots, which is particularly advantageous in summer.

Challenges of parking lot PV

Despite the numerous advantages, there are also some challenges that need to be considered when implementing parking lot PV systems. A central aspect is planning complexity. Since parking spaces are often already in use, the PV systems must be carefully integrated into the existing infrastructure. This requires precise analysis and coordination in order to avoid possible impairments.

Another point is the higher costs compared to conventional PV systems on open spaces. Integrating the modules into the parking structure requires special construction and materials, which can increase the overall cost. Nevertheless, these additional costs should be viewed as an investment in a more sustainable future.

The untapped potential of parking lot PV

Despite the challenges mentioned, parking lot PV has enormous, yet untapped potential. According to estimates, PV systems with a total output of 59 GWp could be installed in parking lots in Germany alone. This unused capacity could make a significant contribution to energy production from renewable sources and bring us a big step closer to our goal of advancing decarbonization.

Create incentives for existing parking spaces

While some German federal states already require the installation of PV systems in new parking spaces, it is important to create incentives for existing parking spaces. Financial support and targeted funding programs could help more parking lot operators decide to integrate PV modules. This would not only increase renewable energy production, but also increase the attractiveness of parking spaces for customers.

The global development of the solar carport market

Solar carports are experiencing impressive growth worldwide. In 2022, sales of the global solar carport market were already 482 million euros. This number is expected to rise to 630 million euros by 2028. A clear trend in the development of new solar carports is aesthetic design, with steel and wooden structures increasingly being used.

Particularly noteworthy are groundbreaking projects such as the 16 MW PV carport in Germany and the 35 MW solar carport in the Netherlands. These projects serve as shining examples of the successful integration of PV systems in parking lots and show the potential this technology has.

Outlook

Parking lot PV has enormous potential to advance decarbonization in Germany and ensure a sustainable energy supply. The dual land use, weather protection and on-site power generation make parking lot PV an attractive option for the future. Although there are challenges, targeted incentives and innovative technologies can help maximize this potential. The global development of the solar carport market shows that this technology is also generating great interest internationally. The “Smarter E Europe 2023” trade fair provides us with a platform to further advance the future of parking PV and to shape a sustainable energy future together.

Parking lot PV represents a promising technology that can play an important role in sustainable energy production in urban areas and businesses. It combines the functionality of parking spaces with the possibility of generating renewable solar energy. Important and interesting details about the future of parking lot PV are explained below:

Efficient use of space

PV carports offer an innovative solution to efficiently use unused areas such as parking spaces, parking garages or along streets. In metropolitan areas and urban areas where space is limited, they can represent a sensible alternative to generate solar energy without taking up additional space.

Contribution to sustainable energy production

The spread of parking lot PV systems can make a significant contribution to sustainable energy production. By converting sunlight into clean energy, cities and communities can meet part of their energy needs from renewable sources, reducing their environmental footprint.

Companies driving the PV carport revolution

Large companies with extensive parking areas for employees and customers can benefit enormously from PV carports. By creating their own renewable energy sources, they can reduce their dependence on traditional electricity suppliers and reduce their energy costs in the long term. In addition, they can strengthen their image as environmentally conscious and sustainable actors, which can have a positive impact on their reputation among customers and investors.

Integration into everyday life in shopping centers and discounters

Supermarkets, shopping centers and discount stores attract a large number of customers every day who park their vehicles in the associated parking lots. Installing PV carports on these parking areas not only allows businesses to generate clean energy for their own consumption, but also to feed excess energy into the power grid, thereby generating additional income.

Technological development and increased efficiency

PV technology has made significant advances in recent years, resulting in increases in the efficiency of solar cells, smarter control systems and improved storage technologies. These developments make PV carports even more attractive and economical, making them suitable for wider use in the future.

Reducing CO2 emissions and promoting the energy transition

Given the urgency of climate change and the need to reduce CO2 emissions, PV carports can make a valuable contribution to promoting the energy transition. Since the transportation sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, switching to clean solar energy to power vehicles in parking garages and parking lots can have a noticeable impact on the environment.

Outlook

The future of parking lot PV is promising and offers numerous opportunities for sustainable energy production and climate protection. The efficient use of space, the commitment of companies, the integration into the everyday life of shopping centers and discounters as well as technological development are decisive factors that drive this technology forward. By reducing CO2 emissions and promoting the energy transition, PV carports can make an important contribution to the sustainable development of our cities and companies.

Solar canopy: Solar covered parking space - Image: Wiederspan.Solar

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• Solar covered parking space for your solar carport park customer projects

We can also offer alternative large solar parking systems!

Photovoltaic large parking lot systems - Image: Wiederspan.Solar

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👉🏻 Cars as well as trucks possible! 👈🏻

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The city solar carport - with increased collision and vandalism protection - Image: Xpert.Digital

The advantages at a glance

• Support & Made in Germany
• Modular & scalable (for 2, 100, 1,000 and more parking spaces)
• Really waterproof
• Integrated water drain / invisible rain gutter
• Vandalism protection, optionally with integrated impact protection
• Variable with all common solar modules
• City design available in aluminum and 3 different colors
• Depending on the amount of self-consumption (degree of self-sufficiency), amortization is possible within 6 years
• Long service life (aluminum substructure)
• 30-year (!) performance guarantee on bifacial and partially transparent double-glass solar modules (25-year product guarantee)
• Reducing urban heat islands
• Building-integrated photovoltaics
• Ideal for transparent and translucent double-glass solar modules with overhead mounting approval!