Car parks, which were once thought of as places for cars to idle, are now transforming into energy powerhouses. Large arrays of solar panels are strewn across the rooftops of carports and supported by sleek steel structures, harnessing the sun’s energy and providing shade for the parked vehicles below.
In the south of England, outside the offices of a major automobile manufacturer, a car park with over 2,000 solar panels boasts a peak capacity of nearly 1 megawatt (MW). This impressive output is enough to power hundreds of homes, demonstrating solar car parks’ enormous potential.
“They are looking stunning,” exclaims Guy Chilvers, the business development manager at SIG, the company responsible for supplying the solar canopies. He insists that these structures not only improve the visual appeal of parking lots, but also provide additional benefits such as protection from rain, snow, and excessive sunlight.
Solar car parks, also known as carports, provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity for electricity generation in open spaces strategically located near energy-intensive facilities such as hospitals, shopping malls, and offices. The growing popularity of solar canopies in parking lots can be attributed to their dual function of generating clean energy while also providing essential vehicle shelter.
France has taken an important step toward promoting clean energy production by passing legislation requiring solar panels to be installed in all new and existing car parks with 80 or more parking spaces. Despite the lack of a comparable requirement in the UK, solar car parks have gained popularity in recent years as businesses seek to reduce long-term costs by leveraging on-site renewable energy sources in the face of rising electricity prices.
A report released by the countryside charity CPRE and the University College London Energy Institute highlights the enormous potential for converting British parking lots into solar farms. “We think the total potential in the built environment is about 117 GW,” says UCL Professor Mark Barrett, “and of that, we think 11 GW is car parks.” To put this in context, the UK currently has approximately 15 GW of total solar capacity and aims to reach 40 GW by 2030 to meet its net-zero targets, according to Solar Energy UK.
While these estimates may differ, it is clear that there is a significant amount of available space within parking garages for solar panel installations, and this realization is gaining traction among individuals and businesses alike. Mr Chilvers confirms this trend, saying, “It’s absolutely gone crazy,” referring to the flood of inquiries that has flooded his inbox. Requests from hotels, hospitals, and recreation centres have increased recently, indicating a growing demand for solar car park canopies.
Praxia Energy, based in Spain, predicts a tenfold increase in car park solar installations in the UK by 2028. Veolia, another prominent player in the renewable energy sector, recently installed a 1.1 MW solar canopy system in the Eastbourne Hospital car park and has seen an increase in demand for solar infrastructure across the UK. Solarsense, a Clevedon-based company, has also reported a recent increase in inquiries.
According to Tim Evans, CEO of 3TI, the UK has been slow to adopt this technology in comparison to other countries on the continent. “We’re a little behind the curve,” he admits. However, there are several prominent examples of successful solar car park installations already in place. The largest solar car park in the UK has a peak capacity of 2.7 MW and is located at the Bentley car factory in Crewe. Mr Evans is currently exploring four potential projects with clients that could have a peak capacity of more than 5 MW.
Solar panels integrated into parking garages can also power electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This application is especially useful in office settings where cars are parked for extended periods of time. Furthermore, as Mr Evans points out, shopping malls, football stadiums, leisure centres, and cinemas provide suitable venues because vehicles typically occupy these spaces for two hours or more, allowing ample time for charging.
However, the cost implications of the steel supports required for many solar canopies must be considered. Solar panels installed directly on the roofs of large buildings, such as supermarkets, are often more cost-effective. Currently, rooftop solar installations yield approximately 9 p per kWh, compared to 14 p or 15 p per kWh for car park panels. Nonetheless, solar canopies have few obvious drawbacks, according to Richard Watkins, a researcher at the University of Kent. He suggests that installers think about incorporating efficient under-canopy lighting to avoid creating dark and potentially hazardous areas at night.
One of the primary challenges confronting many renewable energy projects, including solar car parks, is a lack of grid connections. Surplus energy generated by solar panels must be fed into the grid, requiring a strong infrastructure. Unfortunately, insufficient grid capacity has stalled billions of pounds worth of renewable installations, according to BBC research. Mr Chilvers’ 11 MW solar car park project was rejected due to an inability to secure a grid connection. Ofgem, the energy industry regulator, and National Grid are working together to find ways to speed up connections and improve the overall process.
It is worth noting that, in addition to car parks, a variety of other locations throughout the UK have the potential to host solar installations and contribute to the transition away from fossil fuels. Cycle paths, railways, and reservoirs that can be covered with floating solar panels, according to Professor Sara Walker of Newcastle University, are all viable options. These innovative solutions not only maximize land utilization but also help to reduce evaporative water loss from reservoirs.
