A solar carport is a self-contained structure that provides vehicle cover while also generating clean, renewable energy from the sun. This free power can then be utilized on-site or to charge an electric car fleet. Solar carports can be constructed to blend in with the surrounding environment and cover a wide range of automobile parking places. They can be customized and outfitted with drains to collect rainwater. Solar carports can also raise land value and generate cash for site managers through EV charging stations, branding, and advertising. Additionally, solar carports offer various other benefits, such as on-site energy generation, on-site electric vehicle charging option, the promotion of green initiatives, a sustainable parking option, and others. Due to these benefits, according to OMR Research, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.1% during the forecast period (2023-2029)
Segments of the Market
The global solar carport charging station market is divided on the basis of type and application. Based on type, the market is subdivided into medium and small solar carport charging stations and large solar carport charging stations. Based on application, the market is subdivided into household and commercial.
Recent Developments
Companies such as Atum Charge, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL), S Flex Solutions Pvt. Ltd., SolarWing, Giulio Barbieri S.r.l., Aterno, Kyocera Corp., Sundial Solar Solutions, SUNWORX, Tesla, and others are assisting in the market's growth with their mergers, acquisitions, new product launches, and investment activities. Some of the recent developments in the market include-
New Solar Carport Launches
• In March 2022, Aterno, a French heating and energy savings company, introduced PowerPark, a new solar carport option for small and medium-sized enterprises. The carport measures 5.2×5.51 m in length and 2.33 to 2.93 m in height. It can accommodate two cars and is powered by 15 monocrystalline solar panels with an overall capacity of 5.65 kW, corresponding to a generating capacity ranging from 9,300 to 15,400 kWh/year depending on location.
• In October 2022, CESL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Power's Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. (EESL), developed a first-of-its-kind solar-powered charging plaza for electric mobility in Ladakh. The EV carport is made up of 100 kW of PV panels and a lithium-ion battery storage system with a capacity of 860 kW/hour. The carport can also be used to charge electric buses.
• In May 2022, Solarfields, a developer of sustainable energy and solar energy solutions, built the 35-hectare Solar Carport for the Lowlands Festival parking lot. The sustainable parking lot is 35 hectares in size and can accommodate 15,000 automobiles. The system has a capacity of 35 MWp and can deliver green energy to about 10,000 homes, owing to 90,000 solar panels.
Initiatives
• In June 2022, Maruti Suzuki, India's largest automobile manufacturer, announced that it had installed Asia's largest 20 MWp carport-style solar plant at its Manesar site. The project will provide 28,000 MWH2 of the company's energy demand per year. The energy generated would be comparable to the energy necessary to produce nearly 67,000 automobiles each year. This new plant contributes 11.5% of the Manesar facility's overall energy needs. With the addition of the new 20 MWp solar facility in Manesar, the company's total solar power generation capacity across all of its plants currently stands at 26.3 MWp. According to the corporation, this expansion will save 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year.
• In May 2022, Ford South Africa stated that its assembly plant now generates 35% of its own power with the help of a recently installed 13.5 MW solar carport system. Ford will offset a considerable proportion of the CO2 it emits from the electricity it consumes from South Africa's primarily coal-powered grid through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with SolarAfrica. According to the company, the enormous arrays covering carports for 3,610 vehicles at the Silverton assembly facility in Pretoria are made up of 30,226 solar panels. The 13.5 MW facility is one of the world's largest solar PV carports, and it contributes to Ford Motor Company's global goals of using 100% carbon-free power across its manufacturing facilities by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
Innovative Solutions for the Market’s Growth
In September 2022, Paired Power, located in California, introduced a 5 kW solar canopy called the PairTree with built-in EV charging capability. The canopy can be utilized on or off the grid and is compatible with lithium-ion battery solutions with storage capacities of up to 40 kWh. The carport can hold up to ten bifacial solar modules and can be built in a single workday by two people using basic hand tools.
Furthermore, Enerack, a Chinese PV mounting system vendor, offers a solar carport solution for shopping malls, petrol stations, public parking spaces, and private residences. The company's solar carport is mostly offered in Europe, although the system has also been sold in the Middle East, South Africa, Panama, Guatemala, and Chile. The carport, according to the manufacturer, can accommodate all types and sizes of solar panels, is made of aluminum, and is waterproof. Such innovations prompt the general public, organizations, and other public and private entities to use solar carports instead of normal parking spaces, resulting in the market’s growth.
Potential of the Market
The global solar carport charging station market’s potential is huge in the coming years due to the increasing demand for eco-friendly energy and the rise of electric vehicles (EVs). For instance, according to Department of Energy estimates, there are just under 50,000 EV charging stations in the US. However, with an estimated 35 million to 44 million electric vehicles and trucks on the road by 2030 (up from roughly 3 million currently), the US would require 1.2 million public chargers and 28 million private chargers to keep up with demand, according to a recent McKinsey & Company analysis.
Additionally, governments are launching initiatives to increase the use of renewable energy in order to reduce carbon emissions. For instance, in September 2022, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk unveiled the government's 10-year plan for Queensland, a state in Australia. To reach its renewable energy goals, Queensland needs to boost its output of renewable energy by 29% over the course of eight years. By 2032, Queensland will use 70% renewable energy. Upgrades to the state's renewable infrastructure will be made as part of the 10-year energy plan, according to Deputy Premier Steven Miles. This will allow the state to have more renewable energy and let more families put solar panels on their roofs. The plan will expand renewables and generate jobs as well. The government also celebrated Queensland's solar uptake, citing figures from Australia's Electricity Market Operator that showed solar output accounted for a quarter of all energy generated in Queensland on September 19—38 gigawatt hours in one day, enough to power 2.4 million households. Queensland, according to Energy Minister Mick De Brenni, is the world leader in rooftop solar. Such efforts by the governments in various states and countries will prompt market players to offer more renewable energy sources, resulting in the growth of solar carports as well.
Conclusion
A solar carport, whether it is for two parking spaces or an entire commercial parking lot, makes a real statement about sustainability. It not only offers the chance to charge electric vehicles on-site, but it also can be used to generate income from low-grade parking spaces, improve the appearance of the parking lot, show off the organization’s commitment to CSR (corporate social responsibility), and offer shelter to staff’s and visitors’ vehicles. In addition, solar carports are an excellent option for homeowners who are unable to put a solar power system on their rooftop. A domestic solar carport, on the other hand, is more than just a vehicle shelter with a PV system. Solar carports are extremely adaptable and offer several opportunities to minimize both carbon footprints and energy expenditures. Due to these reasons, the market for solar carports will grow significantly in the future. Moreover, increasing demand for electric vehicles along with government regulations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions will support the growth of the market further.