Solar carport in Thuringia – Covered parking spaces with photovoltaics – Image: Xpert.Digital / fengdr|Shutterstock.com
High interest in solar carports and solar power systems in Thuringia
Even though there is no solar obligation for solar carports and in general in Thuringia, as in some other federal states, the interest in and demand for solar systems is high.
When we talk about solar panels, most people think of a photovoltaic solution for the roof. Perhaps also for the balcony, house facade, or fence. Some also associate it with the large solar fields that are usually seen along the edge of the highway, the so-called ground-mounted PV systems.
Few people consider using solar panels to cover parking areas. In fact, the first solar carport projects were implemented 15 years ago. With the EU's and the German government's climate neutrality policies, interest in this area is also growing.
Solar carports play a significant and important role, particularly when it comes to autonomous power generation. Especially for businesses, shopping centers, and the logistics sector, the potential is literally right there on the street. It's about the paved surfaces that are mostly used for parking, driving, and similar purposes. Solar carport solutions, which cover these paved surfaces with photovoltaic panels, open up further possibilities and business models. Cost savings combined with the monetization of already otherwise used land, analogous to independence from energy companies, make autonomous power generation a model for a new energy development. Environmental awareness and resource conservation through the utilization of permanently available solar energy can thus be combined with economic interests, creating a win-win situation.
Our solar carport solutions for covering open parking areas are modular and scalable:
- Quick and easy assembly
- Customizable design (color, materials, surface, size, etc.)
- Installation of charging stations and inverters is possible at any time
- Scalable & modular: Available as a single, double or infinitely scalable row carport
- Suitable for use even in the standard version for very high wind and snow loads
- …and much more
📣 Open parking areas: Photovoltaic solutions for industry, retail and municipalities
Everything from a single source, specifically designed for solar solutions for large parking areas. Refinance or offset your future costs with your own electricity generation.
🎯 For solar installers, plumbers, electricians and roofers
Consultation and planning including a non-binding cost estimate. We connect you with strong partners in photovoltaics.
👨🏻 👩🏻 👴🏻 👵🏻 For private households
We have a regional presence throughout the German-speaking world. We have reliable partners who will advise you and implement your wishes.
With over 1,000 articles and an equally diverse range of figures, data, and graphics, we cannot present all topics here. Therefore, you will find a small selection of our work here, and we would be delighted if we have sparked your interest in learning more about us
Information sheets as PDFs on the topics of electromobility and solar systems
Electromobility, mandatory solar panels, and solar carports are topics in Germany – with PDFs – Image: Xpert.Digital
Environmental bonus/innovation bonus: Promotion of plug-in hybrids
Environmental bonus/innovation bonus: Promotion of plug-in hybrids – Image: Xpert.Digital & Wit Olszewski|Shutterstock.com
From October 1, 2022, only plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) with a purely electric range of at least 60 kilometers will be eligible for the environmental bonus. This minimum range is set to increase to 80 kilometers on January 1, 2024. The previously applicable additional criterion of maximum CO2 emissions of 50g/km will be eliminated. This is according to a proposal from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy regarding the new funding guidelines.
The so-called environmental bonus is being paid – for vehicles with a list price of up to €40,000, it now amounts to €9,000 for purely electric cars and fuel cell vehicles, and €6,750 for plug-in hybrids, including the innovation premium. For vehicles over €40,000, the premium is €7,500 for purely electric cars and €5,625 for hybrid cars. Federal funding is only provided if the manufacturers contribute a share of the costs. The innovation premium applies to vehicles registered from June 4, 2020. Currently, the environmental bonus is limited until December 31, 2021. However, an extension of the premium until the end of 2025 is planned.
More information here:
Survey on business models in electromobility in Germany
Survey on business models in electromobility in Germany – Image: Xpert.Digital
Municipal utilities – Survey on business models in electromobility in Germany 2020
In 2020, 79 percent of respondents from energy supply companies stated that they operate public charging infrastructure in the field of electromobility.
This was the result of a survey of 117 managing directors and board members of municipal utilities and energy supply companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The survey question was phrased as follows: “Is your company already active in the following business model in the field of electromobility, or does it plan to enter it in the next one to two years, at a later date, or not at all?”.
The question was only asked of respondents in companies where electromobility is of high or very high importance.
Business models in the field of electromobility:
- Operation of public charging infrastructure
- Sale of charging current
- Sale and installation of private charging infrastructure
- Electric charging billing
- Operation of digital mobility platforms
- Mobility as a Service
- Fleet management
- Marketing the storage capacity of electric vehicles
In which business models in the field of electromobility is your company active?
Already active today
- Operation of public charging infrastructure – 79%
- Sales of charging current – 78%
- Sales and installation of private charging infrastructure – 64%
- Electric vehicle charging bill – 59%
- Operation of digital mobility platforms – 20%
- Mobility as a Service – 12%
- Fleet management – 10%
- Marketing of the storage capacity of electric vehicles – 3%
Planned for the next one to two years
- Operation of public charging infrastructure – 7%
- Sales of charging current – 16%
- Sales and installation of private charging infrastructure – 13%
- Electric vehicle charging bill – 17%
- Operation of digital mobility platforms – 16%
- Mobility as a Service – 12%
- Fleet management – 9%
- Marketing of the storage capacity of electric vehicles – 11%
Planned for a later date
- Operation of public charging infrastructure – 3%
- Sale of charging current – 2%
- Sales and installation of private charging infrastructure – 7%
- Electric vehicle charging bill – 0%
- Operation of digital mobility platforms – 12%
- Mobility as a Service – 9%
- Fleet management – 13%
- Marketing of the storage capacity of electric vehicles – 34%
Not at all
- Operation of public charging infrastructure – 11%
- Sale of charging current – 4%
- Sales and installation of private charging infrastructure – 14%
- Electric vehicle charging bill – 21%
- Operation of digital mobility platforms – 49%
- Mobility as a Service – 63%
- Fleet management – 65%
- Marketing of the storage capacity of electric vehicles – 50%
I don't know/No information
- Operation of public charging infrastructure – 0%
- Sale of charging current – 0%
- Sales and installation of private charging infrastructure – 2%
- Electric vehicle charging bill – 3%
- Operation of digital mobility platforms – 3%
- Mobility as a Service – 4%
- Fleet management – 3%
- Marketing of the storage capacity of electric vehicles – 2%
Survey on increased engagement with electromobility due to the e-bonus
Survey on increased engagement with electromobility due to the e-mobility bonus – Image: Xpert.Digital
In September 2020, around 43 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 stated that they were engaging more intensively with electromobility due to the innovation bonus¹. Overall, around 29 percent of respondents were engaging more intensively with electromobility.
The source does not provide precise details regarding the question. Therefore, the wording used here may differ slightly from the actual survey.
Are you engaging more intensively with electromobility because of the e-premium (innovation premium¹)?
- Total – 29%
- 18 to 29 years – 43%
- 30 to 39 years – 38%
- 40 to 49 years – 32%
- 50 to 59 years – 24%
- 60+ years – 23%
- Small town¹ – 27%
- Medium-sized city² – 30%
- Big city³ – 32%
¹ The innovation premium includes subsidies for electric vehicles with a net list price of less than 40,000 euros up to 9,000 euros for a purely electric drive (battery electric or fuel cell vehicle) and up to 6,750 euros for an externally chargeable hybrid electric vehicle (plug-in hybrid).
² < 20,000 inhabitants
20,000 to <100,000 inhabitants
⁴ 100,000 inhabitants +
Recognized renewable energies
EEWärmeG – Recognized renewable energies and substitute measures
Recognized renewable energies – Image: Xpert.Digital
The statistics show the renewable energy sources and alternative measures recognized by the German Renewable Energy Heat Act (EEWärmeG) and the minimum shares required for recognition. To fully comply with the EEWärmeG, at least 15 percent of a building's heating must be provided by solar radiation. If a house is heated by solar energy to only 7.5 percent instead of 15 percent, the minimum share required by the EEWärmeG is only 50 percent fulfilled. Renewable energy sources and alternative measures can be combined with each other in a variety of ways. The important thing is that the overall utilization requirement stipulated in the EEWärmeG is met by at least 100 percent.
Renewable energies and replacement measures recognized under the EEWärmeG with their respective minimum shares
- Solar radiation energy – 15%
- Gaseous biomass – 30%
- Liquid biomass – 50%
- Solid biomass – 50%
- Geothermal energy and ambient heat – 50%
- Waste heat recovery systems – 50%
- CHP* plants – 50%
- Energy saving measures – -15%
- District heating or cooling with a share of renewable energies; CHP*, waste heat – 100%
* CHP = Combined Heat and Power. EEWärmeG stands for the law on the promotion of renewable energies in the heating sector.
Publication date: February 2011
- Planning photovoltaics on warehouses, commercial buildings and industrial buildings
- Industrial plant: Planning a photovoltaic open-field system or open-area system
- Planning solar power systems with photovoltaic solutions for freight forwarding companies and contract logistics
- B2B Solar Systems and Photovoltaic Solutions & Consulting
Photovoltaic system solutions in Thuringia: Xpert.Solar for planning and consulting in the area of solar carports, solar systems on roofs and photovoltaic systems in general for Erfurt, Jena, Gera and Weimar
Konrad Wolfenstein
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Xpert.Digital – Konrad Wolfenstein
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