Smart Carport Solar Energy Installations For an Energy and Cost-Savvy Business for the Future

Minimum infrastructure expenses as you can refurbish an existing space into a solar carport system

Minimum maintenance effort and expense on a carport solar in India

Customizable solar carport sizes to fit your business needs

Making a unifunctional part of your commercial infrastructure into a multi-functional unit that saves money is the smartest business decision you can take. Opt for a solar carport as a sustainable energy generation source while addressing your other facility needs, as a carport solar in India is the next big thing.

Carport solar solutions installation is an excellent way to generate clean energy for a business. It doesn’t take up much space but can produce much power. This makes it ideal for companies that want to invest in solar energy without redesigning their entire property.

In addition, carport solar PV systems help your business initiate several sustainable initiatives. One such initiative is an electric car charging station keeping with India’s booming electric vehicle market. This lets you be a stakeholder in NITI Aayog’s aim of increasing commercial electronic vehicle sales by 70% to reach the Indian government’s objective of zero carbon emission by 2070.

What are carport solar PV systems?

Types of Carport Solar

Commercial solar carports are fitted with photovoltaic cells to provide energy for the building it's attached to, but they can also be used as standalone structures. Commercial carports can be used as garages or parking lots for commercial purposes such as offices, malls and showrooms. They are usually located near the main entrance so customers can park their vehicles easily before entering the establishment.

Industrial solar carports are structures that cover one or more parking spaces with a roof and have installed solar PV systems. The solar PV systems on the roof generate electricity from the sun, which is then stored in batteries for use at night or during cloudy weather days.

How Do carport solar PV systems Work?

The PV systems on a solar carport can be configured in several different ways depending on how much solar energy you want to capture and store for future use. Some PV systems may only be able to capture a small amount of sunlight while others may capture more than enough energy for your commercial needs.

A solar carport is integrated with battery storage systems that can provide backup power during outages or cloudy days when the PV systems aren’t producing enough electricity to meet demand. The generated energy is good enough to run heavy machinery and other units of a production facility, such as pulley systems, lifts and others.

Critical Components of a Solar Carport

If you’ve decided to install solar panels for your home or commercial property, the next step is deciding what solar rooftop projects to choose from. They all have their advantages depending on your particular needs and expertise. Here’s a quick brief on different types of solar panels and rooftop solar projects

PV Cells

Absorb and convert the sunlight into direct current electric power.

Mounting Structure

Activates the PV cells along the solar canopy.

Inverter

Transform the DC energy into AC (alternating current) electricity to power your business facility.

Energy Metering System

Tracks the volume of green energy created by the solar canopy and its subsequent consumption.

Things to Consider While Opting for a Solar Carport System

Carport Size, Height and Positioning

Assess the size of your car shed to determine the area you want to dedicate for solar PV system installation. Determine the ground clearance of the shed before your installer builds the solar canopy. If your business requires delivery vehicles that are big trucks to be parked, then it is recommended that you keep at least 14 feet of ground clearance.

You must consider the following for commercial solar carports:

  • Your carport must not be under the shade of trees or any buildings.
  • It must be away from exhaust fumes from nearby factory chimneys and other sources.
  • The distance of the carport from the power evacuation point (LT panel) must be manageable.

Carport Position

You must factor in the position of your carport before choosing the solar canopy design. For instance, if your business facility is in a region that witnesses rainfall frequently, you must opt for a tilted canopy design that prevents rainwater accumulation on the solar PV systems.

Energy Load Analysis of Your Business

You must assess the energy your business will require daily before you opt for a solar carport system. You will also need to have a count of the number of EVs of your employees that will require charging from your carport.

Energy Generation Analysis

After you have opted for the canopy design, find out the energy generation capacity of your solar carport installation. The capacity must be determined on a daily, monthly and hourly basis.

Battery Size Determination

Next, you must tally the energy requirement of your business and the power generation capacity of the solar carport and find out the scopes of surplus power. Based on this finding, you must determine the size and structure of the battery backup system to be integrated with the carport solar PV systems.

Benefits of Carport Solar in India

You can refurbish an existing area into a solar carport. In this way, a non-functional unit of your business infrastructure into a multi-functional unit as it generates energy as well as serves as a secure parking lot.

Carport solar in India is gaining rapid traction because of the immense cost benefits it provides. It reduces energy bills over time. Solar carports are highly efficient and require very little maintenance or upkeep over their lifetime, so you'll save on labour costs and replacement parts.

You can trade the energy your solar carport system produces in exchange for credits on your monthly bills. In addition, you can sell the surplus power generated to the grid at a rate higher than what you have been paying to get the power.

The solar PV systems on the carport elevation are easy to reach and therefore are easy to maintain. The titled structure of the PV systems prevents the accumulation of unwanted particles on the PV systems

The angle of solar PV system installation is its vantage point. It exposes the PV systems to sunlight for the maximum time. It results in entire energy generation.

Automobile OEMs can turn a carport solar PV system into a shelter to protect their newly auto parts and vehicles from being affected by meteorological factors. This solar canopy can also be a charging station for electric vehicles.

Solar carports come in many different shapes and sizes to meet your needs. It can be built big enough to power your facility as well as charge the cars of your entire workforce.

Why Choose Enerparc for Carport Solar Solutions?

Enerparc Energy is one of the frontrunners in renewable energy firms. It is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and has an Indian subsidiary in Bangalore. Enerparc is known to provide innovative and bespoke carport solar solutions in India. It boasts a wide range of clientele across multiple verticals across India to help businesses get more energy efficient, cost-savvy and less dependent on the National grid for power.

Enormous structures for the solar carport system are assembled with superior engineering and design skills. Enerparc uses the best quality steel to enable the carport structure to withstand any loading conditions at your installation site. The installation design created by the engineering and design team at Enerparc Energy can be customized to fit the design specifications of a solar PV system. This solar carport installation service provider uses PV cells and inverters from the house of the most prominent manufacturers. Such structures are meant to ensure maximum performance within an optimum expenditure.

In addition to providing carport solar in India, Enerparc Energy specializes in other renewable energy solutions. These are rooftop solar power systems, ground-mounted solar power plants, battery storage, and hybrid systems.

Enerparc Energy’s On-site Solutions

Enerparc Energy’s on-site solutions enable your business facility’s self-sufficiency in producing solar energy. This benefits your business with energy efficiency, saving on utility bills and minimizing your carbon footprint.

CAPEX Model

According to this model, the business owner bears the total upfront installation charge of the solar carport system. Enerparc will design, engineer, procure the installation components and assemble the structure at its client’s location. The client uses the power produced by the carport solar PV systems. Also, the client can export the surplus power to the grid per the local governing policies.

As per the CAPEX, the client has a 3-5 years payback period, post which it is eligible to receive green power free of cost for the next 25 years. However, the payback period depends on the infrastructure, location of the client’s business facility, electricity cost from the grid, rebates, and incentives for carport solar power.

The “zero export” project is another variation of the CAPEX model. According to this variation, the client utilizes the total power within the premises without exporting to the grid.

OPEX Or BOOT Model

According to the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model, Enerparc Energy will finance, build and operate the carport solar plant within the client’s business facility. The BOOT model allows Enerparc to sell the power generated at competitive charges via a power purchase agreement (PPA). Once the PPA term ends, Enerparc passes on the carport solar system ownership to the client in exchange for a nominal fee. The client can also repurchase the solar power system at any point of time during the PPA term for a pre-decided rate.

Lease Rental Model

Under this financing option, Enerparc is responsible for designing, purchasing installation materials and assembling the infrastructure at the client’s location. The client will pay a pre-decided monthly payment to the NBFC over five years.

During this period, the client can enjoy the depreciation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) benefits as per the current laws.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

These systems store the generated power in batteries to be used later. BESS systems can be integrated with carport solar systems to store electricity used during peak demand or power blackouts without relying on the grid.

The Indian government and people have been facing many problems like electric affordability, electricity shortage, peak load management, finding reliable power backup solutions and cutting high power consumption. To overcome this, a solar carport system is one of the best solutions as it reduces recurring electric costs by 50%. As solar carports offer an option to cut fuel costs and lower energy bills, these are now being widely used by businesses to provide clean energy for their day-to-day operations.

FAQs

The solar carport is a covered structure that houses one or more photovoltaic (PV) arrays. The PV array converts sunlight into direct current electricity, fed into the building's electrical system. The electricity is then transferred through wiring embedded in the parking lot surface to charging stations or outlets inside your building.

It is not a standard feature offered for carport solar solutions. But it can be provided on request. Water intrusion can be a serious issue that can impact the functionality and durability of carport solar PV systems. Expert installation service providers of carport solar in India recommend using sealants to make solar PV systems waterproof or a tilted rooftop structure to prevent water accumulation on the PV systems.

You must look for two types of wind loads to protect your solar carport system. The wind uplift pressure is related to the size of the building and its height. The higher the building and taller than all other buildings, the higher it's potential for damage from a strong storm or hurricane. The wind drag force is related to the shape of your carport solar PV systems and how they are mounted on your roof. This drag force can cause your roof to collapse if it is not designed correctly or has too much weight.

A Solar Carport is a structure that houses several solar PV systems. They are designed to be installed in areas without access to power lines, such as warehouses or parking lots. Solar carports are usually installed on concrete pads and can generate electricity for nearby buildings.

How much area is required for installing carport solar PV systems? You will need a minimum of 5 acres of rooftop area to install carport solar PV systems of 1MW power generating capacity.

The average installation cost for 1MW grid-connected solar carport is between INR 90-100 million. It can be installed on most buildings, including offices, warehouses and retail stores.