The solar power industry is growing fast, and people are finding creative new ways to use the sun’s energy beyond just putting solar panels on their roofs. Two options that are becoming more popular are solar carports and solar canopies. These structures are great alternatives to roof solar panels because they make use of parking lots, patios, and other open spaces. Let’s look at everything you need to know about solar carports, what makes them useful, how to install them, and why they’re becoming such a big deal.
Key Takeaways
- Solar carports and canopies are structures with solar panels that give you covered parking or patio space while making clean energy
- They are perfect for properties that cannot have roof solar panels because they use open spaces instead
- Besides making solar power, they provide shade and protect from bad weather
- While they cost more at first, they are worth it because they do two jobs: making energy and providing cover
What are Solar Carports and Solar Canopies?
A solar carport is basically a covered parking spot that has solar panels on top instead of regular roofing. Unlike a normal carport that just gives shade to your car, a solar carport makes electricity by catching sunlight through its solar panels.
Solar canopies are similar but can cover bigger areas like entire parking lots, patios, swimming pools, or other open spaces. They provide shade while making electricity at the same time. For businesses, solar canopies can create covered walkways between buildings while making solar power. At homes, a solar canopy lets you build an outdoor living space or backyard patio with solar panels providing shade overhead.
The solar panels on these structures catch sunlight during the day and turn it into electricity. This power can then run your home, charge electric cars, or even be sent back to the power company.
Key Components of Solar Carports and Canopies
- Support Structure. The framework that holds the solar panels and provides shelter for vehicles.
- Solar Panels. Photovoltaic modules that turn sunlight into electricity.
- Inverters. Devices that change the electricity from the panels into the kind your house can use.
- Wiring. Electrical connections that move power from the panels to where it needs to go.
- Optional Features. Things like LED lights, electric car charging stations, and systems to handle rainwater.
Consider a hybrid solar-wind system to complement your solar carport or canopy, maximizing energy generation.
How Do Solar Carports and Solar Canopies Work?
Solar carports and canopies work by putting solar panels into the roof of a carport. The panels catch sunlight and turn it into electricity. The panels are placed to get as much sun as possible, making what’s called direct current (DC) electricity. This DC power then goes to an inverter, which changes it into alternating current (AC) electricity – the kind your house uses.
Once changed, you can use this electricity to power buildings nearby, charge electric vehicles, or send it back to the power company. Many power companies will give you credit for the extra power you send back, which is called net metering. Solar carports are great because they do two jobs at once: they keep your car in the shade and make clean energy. This makes good use of space by turning parking areas into power stations without needing extra land.
While the basic idea is the same as roof solar panels, setting up a carport system can be different. You usually need to build a strong foundation in the ground to hold up the carport and its solar panels. But carports often need less complicated mounting equipment than roof installations.
The size of the system and number of solar panels can be very different depending on how much space you have, how much power you want to make, your budget, and other things about your property. Most solar installers can look at your property and tell you what kind of solar carport or canopy would work best.
Adding solar batteries to your carport system ensures reliable power storage for off-peak usage.
Benefits of Solar Carports and Canopies
Besides making clean solar energy, carports and canopies have several advantages over regular roof solar panels:
- Dual Functionality. Solar carports and canopies give you parking space or patio cover while making clean energy.
- Shade and weather protection. The canopy structure provides shade and cover from rain, snow, and other elements for parked vehicles or patio areas.
- Flexibility in orientation. Ground and carport-mounted solar panels can be positioned at optimal angles and orientations to capture the most available sunlight. Rooftop systems are limited by the fixed angle and direction of the house or building roof.
- No roof penetrations. Solar carports avoid having to drill holes and create penetrations through the roof of a home or business for mounting and wiring solar panels.
- Suitable for properties without adequate rooftop space. Homes, businesses, or buildings with small, shaded, or complicated roofs can still harness solar through a separate carport or canopy structure.
- Added value and dual-use. Even though they cost more at first, you get both an energy maker and a shelter.
It is also smart to think about getting a solar generators as a backup power source for your solar carport or canopy, just in case the power goes out.
How to Install a Solar Carport or Canopy
1. Site Assessment
The first step in installing a solar carport or canopy is conducting a site assessment. This involves evaluating the available space, sunlight exposure, and electrical infrastructure.
2. Design and Engineering
After checking the site, engineers design the structure. They think about how big it should be, how to build it, and how many solar panels you need to make enough power.
3. Permitting
Before building starts, you need to get permits from your local government. This means showing them plans and getting their okay to build.
4. Construction
This is when the actual building happens – putting up the carport or canopy, installing the solar panels, and connecting everything to your electrical system. Professional installers do this work to make sure it’s done right and safely.
Solar lights can easily enhance solar carport structures to illuminate parking spaces effectively and sustainably.
How Much Does It Cost?
The total cost of a solar carport or canopy depends on several things:
- System Size. Larger systems with more panels cost more but make more electricity.
- Type of Solar Panels. Better quality panels cost more but might make more power.
- Materials. The quality of materials used for the structure affects the cost.
- Installation. Labor costs are different in different areas.
- Incentives. Government programs, rebates, and tax breaks can lower the total cost.
While it costs a lot at first, many people find that solar carports are worth the money because they save on energy bills and might qualify for tax breaks.
Cost Comparison Between Solar Carport and Basic Rooftop Installation
Solar Carports and Canopies. The average cost for solar carports ranges from $3.50 to $5.50 per watt installed, including both the solar panels and the supporting structure. For a typical 5-kilowatt system, that is about $17,500 to $27,500.
Rooftop Installations. The average cost for rooftop solar installations is lower, ranging from $2.50 to $3.50 per watt installed. For the same 5-kilowatt system, this would be around $12,500 to $17,500.
How Much Power Does a Solar Carport Produce?
How much power your solar carport makes depends on several things, including:
- How big it is
- How well the solar panels work
- Where you live
- How much sun you get
A typical solar panel makes between 250 and 400 watts of power. So if your carport has 20 panels, it could make between 5,000 and 8,000 watts (5 to 8 kilowatts) when conditions are perfect.
Where you live makes a big difference in power production. Places with lots of sun, like the southwestern U.S., will make more power than places with less sun, like the Pacific Northwest. On average, a 5-kilowatt solar carport can make about 6,000 to 8,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, depending on your local sun levels.
The way the panels are angled and which way they face also affects how much power they make. Panels that face the right way to catch the most sun will work better. The seasons also matter – you’ll make more power in summer when days are longer than in winter when days are shorter.
Wrapping Up
Solar carports are an exciting way to make clean energy while using parking spaces that are already there. As solar technology gets cheaper and better, more people are choosing to build solar carports and canopies. For many homes and businesses, they are a great choice instead of roof solar panels because they use empty space and add useful shade and cover.
Even though carports and canopies cost more upfront than basic roof solar, having two uses (power and shelter), better sun exposure, and possible government incentives can make them a smart investment.
Many solar companies now offer special solar carport and canopy services because so many people want them. These structures let properties that cannot use roof solar still get the benefits of solar power, electric car charging, and savings on energy bills.
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