About the Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Carports
A solar carport is a shelter for your vehicle that provides shade and protection. Compared to traditional carports and ground-mounted solar arrays, solar carport systems have clear advantages. This article shares with you the advantages and disadvantages of solar carports, how they work, and how they can benefit you.
What is a Solar Carport?
A solar carport is a canopy over a parking space with solar panels on top. Solar carports allow business owners to install solar panels on their parking lots because they are elevated structures (usually 14 feet or higher). Additionally, building a photovoltaic carport system does not require the acquisition of new land. Moreover, unlike rooftop solar systems that need to be stable, sturdy, and meet various other requirements, solar carports can be built in most open parking lots.
Solar carports also protect against UV rays and rain, and they facilitate electric vehicle charging. However, solar carports are not just for charging electric vehicles. They can also provide energy for nearby businesses, homes, or the local utility grid. The energy generated by solar carports is the same as, or even more than, that of standard rooftop solar power systems.
How Do Solar Carports Work?
Solar carports collect sunlight and convert it into energy in the same way as other solar panels, with the difference being that the panels are located on the top of the carport. If space is an issue for your home or business, then a solar carport is a great way to profit from clean energy in the most effective way.
The function of a solar carport is the same as that of a rooftop or ground photovoltaic system: solar panels absorb photons from the sun and convert them into usable electrons, which are then sent to an inverter and converted into alternating current (AC) for use by other devices. Solar carports truly shine with their multifunctional characteristics, providing clean energy while protecting your vehicle and saving space.
Solar Carports for Every Application
Leon solar provides tailor-made solar carport mounting solutions to fit the needs of any parking lot, offering both single and double-row configurations.Many garages of five-star hotels in Thailand have purchased our solar carport mounting
Our carports are constructed from aluminum, ensuring excellent resistance to corrosion. The primary anchoring method utilizes foundation bolts embedded in concrete blocks, further reinforced with poured concrete. This straightforward design aesthetic seamlessly integrates into various settings, including shopping malls, corporate campuses, hospitals, government facilities, and parks.
Beyond providing shade for vehicles, our solar carports generate clean energy, offering a profitable and sustainable solution. We specialize in designing and optimizing carports for parking lots and driveways, ensuring each project receives a customized solution that maximizes efficiency and aesthetics.
By employing high-strength, lightweight aluminum alloy and steel, combined with professional industrial design principles, we create solar carports that are not only structurally sound but also visually appealing. The resulting structures are simple, elegant, and modern, seamlessly complementing their surroundings.
Our solar carport mounting systems are designed for convenient and straightforward installation, making them ideal for open spaces adjacent to residential or commercial buildings, such as shopping malls. These systems offer a cost-effective and streamlined approach to providing shaded parking while simultaneously generating renewable energy.
Benefits of Solar Carports
Residential and commercial solar carports have many advantages over rooftop and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, regardless of cost.
- Effective Space Utilization
Since solar carports are built on-site with support systems, they almost do not occupy additional space, making them an excellent alternative to rooftop and ground-mounted solar power stations. Solar carport systems can be installed in retail, commercial, industrial, or residential areas because they are versatile and can be designed in various sizes.
- Reduced Energy Bills
Similar to flat roof solar systems and ground-mounted solar systems, solar carports can reduce energy costs, saving businesses and families a significant amount of money. By reducing energy costs and making them more predictable, solar carports can help prevent utility cost increases. Solar systems help stabilize the company’s cash flow. This may also provide opportunities to invest in energy-saving in different areas of the company/organization.
- Protect Your Car from Bad Weather
Besides economic and environmental advantages, there is a very simple reason to install a solar carport: it can protect your vehicle from the weather. If you live in a snowy or rainy area, carports are especially useful in resisting bad weather.
- Easy Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
If you have an electric vehicle, a solar carport with a charging station can charge it without using any fossil fuels, which is very environmentally friendly. Charging stations are generally close to the car, so it is simple to connect the EV charger to the panel.
- Simple Maintenance
In terms of maintenance and weather issues, solar carports are easier to maintain than you might think. Tilted solar panels allow rain and snow to slide off on their own, which simplifies parking lot maintenance. If solar panels need maintenance, they are easy to access and do not require much maintenance work.
Disadvantages of Solar Carports
Although having a solar carport has many benefits, it may not be your best choice for several reasons.
- Space Prerequisites
You also need to consider how much outdoor space is needed to accommodate a solar carport. To generate enough electricity to power a typical home, you need 400 to 700 square feet of solar panels. However, for those who do not have much space and are willing to reduce energy costs without eliminating them, building a smaller solar carport is a good choice.
- Cost of Solar Carports
The initial cost of building a solar carport ranges from 18,000to25,000. When purchasing a solar carport system, you must also purchase photovoltaic (PV) panels and carport supports. You also need to buy hardware wiring, various components, and labor to install your solar carport.
- Commercial Solar Carports
Many companies hope to use solar carports for various types of parking lots because this can reduce their future electricity costs. Since businesses can purchase multiple solar carports, the cost of commercial installation is usually about $3.45 per watt.
Solar carports are a very feasible and simple solution that can benefit anyone interested in solar energy. They are simple structures that can be used as car covers and sources of solar power generation.
