Solar filling station: Solar carports as a further step for the growing charging station infrastructure

Language selection 📢 X

Published on: July 1, 2021 / Update from: July 1, 2021 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Solar carport as a solar filling station – Image: Xpert.Digital & Rudmer Zwerver|Shutterstock.com

Solar carport development and potential

With regard to the emission-free EU policy, the rising diesel and gasoline prices, the increase in electric vehicles with the associated charging stations and charging point bottlenecks, not only will a completely different driving and vehicle situation develop here in the next few years, but also the refueling or charging behavior will change completely. Refueling and charging will no longer only be possible on a large scale at central solar filling stations ; these will be distributed decentrally across the area. Wherever there are parking spaces, potential for charging points and charging stations will arise.

An interesting new market with great potential is emerging here, especially for solar installers, which is being driven primarily by politics. The aim is not for the electricity to continue to come from the socket, but rather from the photovoltaic technology around the corner, primarily via the solar carport concept in open parking spaces. This does not mean public parking spaces. Open parking spaces are mostly covered and uncovered spaces.

It wasn't long ago that typical solar systems mainly in demand for pitched roofs on houses or for flat roofs on production and industrial halls. Acceptance was also high for solar parks and solar fields Particularly when it comes to ground , 62% of respondents in a survey stated that they would rather have a solar park as an electricity generation system in their neighborhood than, for example, a nuclear power plant. Here only 5% were in favor of nuclear energy.

With electromobility and the lack of charging infrastructure, the idea of solar carports in open parking spaces .

Solar carports as a further step for the growing charging station infrastructure

In a survey, experts from the e-mobility industry confirmed with over 70% that the expansion of the charging station network has a strong influence on the market for electric vehicles. Another 22% believe it is at least having an impact on the EV market.

In comparison, the number of street filling stations has decreased over the past ten years. The number fell continuously from 14,410 in 2010 to 14,089 in 2020. The number of charging points in Germany developed in the opposite direction; from 2012 to 2021 the number increased almost tenfold. With the increasing number of electric cars, the number of charging stations will continue to grow in the future.

While a charging station consists of one or more charging points, the difference to a charging point is that only one electric vehicle can be charged at a charging point at a time. A charging station can therefore consist of one or more charging points.

In addition to wallboxes, charging stations are part of the charging points. There are currently over 39,500 charging points in total (as of February 2021).

Suitable for:

39,500 charging points compared to 14,000 filling stations only looks very good at first glance. But the fact is that gas stations can refuel and charge more vehicles at the same time much faster. According to estimates, electric car charging stations can currently only cover 10% of the performance level compared to gas stations. What makes things even more difficult is the patchy infrastructure of charging options. If you also take into account that the proportion of electric cars in daily traffic is much lower. The problem will increase even more if the proportion of electric cars grows in the next few years, which is to be expected.

Consent to electricity generation in the neighborhood in Germany

Solar parks are the most popular electricity generation systems – Image: Xpert.Digital

62% – solar farms
60% – Renewable energy systems in general
47% – wind turbine
32% – biogas plant
22% – Electricity pylons of an overland power line
15% – gas power plant
5% – nuclear power plant
4% – coal-fired power plant

How is the development of new charging stations in Germany?

Number of new charging stations in Germany from 2010 to 2021 – Image: Xpert.Digital

2010 – 89 charging stations
2011 – 254 charging stations
2012 – 153 charging stations
2013 – 144 charging stations
2014 – 315 charging stations
2015 – 620 charging stations
2016 – 1,174 charging stations
2017 – 2,040 charging stations
2018 – 4,107 charging stations
2019 – 5,019 charging stations
2020 – 4,530 charging stations
2021 – 1,146 charging stations (January to April)

People in Germany who are planning to modernize or purchase a new solar system (photovoltaic system) according to their living situation in comparison with the population

People with planned modernization of a solar system depending on their living situation - Image: Xpert.Digital

Population

36.8% – Live in their own house
7.4% – Live in your own condominium
55.8% – Live as a rent/sublet

People who are definitely/maybe planning to modernize their solar system/photovoltaics

71.1% – Live in their own house
6.3% – Live in your own condominium
22.6% – Live for rent/sublet

That's why Xpert.Solar for solar carport consulting and planning as a further step for the growing charging station infrastructure

Konrad Wolfenstein

I would be happy to serve as your personal advisor.

You can contact me by filling out the contact form below or simply call me on +49 89 89 674 804 .

I'm looking forward to our joint project.

Write to me

Or book an online appointment right here (video call via Microsoft Teams)

Xpert.Digital – Konrad Wolfenstein

Xpert.Digital is a hub for industry with a focus on digitalization, mechanical engineering, logistics/intralogistics and photovoltaics.

With our 360° business development solution, we support well-known companies from new business to after sales.

Market intelligence, smarketing, marketing automation, content development, PR, mail campaigns, personalized social media and lead nurturing are part of our digital tools.

You can find out more at: www.xpert.digital – www.xpert.solar – www.xpert.plus