Introduction into Solar Carports

What Are Solar Carports?

Solar carports are essentially overhead structures mounted with photovoltaic panels (PV). They provide shade and generate local green energy from gray parking spaces.

Businesses acquire PV-mounted carports in order to make better use of the available land and to produce green energy. Companies save up on the energy bill, become more shock-resistant to utility price hikes and have a predictable cost-structure that ensures safety.

When considering solar carports for a business, it’s essential to understand the different types available and how factors like size and panel technology impact energy production. Businesses can customize their carports based on space availability, energy needs, and budget constraints.

What Are Solar Carports?

The Benefits of Solar Carports

PV-mounted carports have a multitude of benefits, ranging from economic, to environmental, and technological. We will take a deeper dive below.

Flexibility: Parking lots are usually large gray areas with direct sun exposure. These are excellent conditions for solar energy production . Placing a carport in a parking space transforms it into a more productive, revenue-generating asset.
Cost Reduction: PV carports aid in cost cutting and energy independence for companies. With rising electricity prices, many enterprises are looking for solutions to decrease operating costs.
Sustainability: Lowering emissions and being sustainable has become a universal goal for companies. Solar energy is green energy, thus adhering to the ESG initiatives, helping businesses achieve their goals.
Aesthetics: One often overlooked factor is the aesthetic one. Solar carports don’t have to be giant steel “monsters”. They often mix wood and steel to create stylish and pleasant structures that are fully customizable . This helps integrating the carport into the existing landscape.
Connectivity: PV carports can and should be paired with battery storage systems and EV chargers. This reduces grid congestion and accommodates the changing car infrastructure, as 80% of the newly bought vehicles in The Netherlands are EVs.

Benefits

Types of Solar Carports

Photovoltaic carports come in various shapes and sizes that can fit any parking and business needs. The two main designs are:

Single-row carports: This design covers a single row of parked vehicles, making them better suited for areas with limited space . One great example of a single-row carport is our AmperaPort Signature .
Double-row carports: These structures are built to cover 2 rows of parked cars with a shared central support structure, optimizing space efficiency and maximizing energy generation. All of this makes double-row carports the more efficient option in terms of cost/energy production. A proper example of a double-row PV carport is our AmperaPort Suncatcher .

One other way PV carports are divided is by the type of solar panels they use. There are two types of panels.

Mono-facial panels: These generate electricity only from the front side, facing the sun. They are straightforward, but not as efficient, as they miss out on reflected sunlight
Bifacial panels: These panels generate electricity from front and rear, by capturing reflected sunlight. The rear production can add up to 30% more output. All AmperaPark models use bifacial panels to maximize production.

Types of Solar Carports

Take Action Today

Investing in solar carports is a smart decision that will pay off in the long run by providing future-proof infrastructure, sustainability benefits and financial savings.

Did you know AmperaPark is the Dutch market leader in solar carports with integrated charging solutions? Are you curious about how this innovative technology might help your business thrive? Contact us right now to find out more about ideas that can be customized to meet your needs!