Leading solar developers have taken advantage of the necessity of parking lots and created a solar parking structure that harnesses renewable energy in an innovative way as well as reducing people’s power costs.
Millions of public and private spaces across the globe are virtually surrounded by huge parking lots. Some are even larger than the businesses. With the necessity of vehicles still in place, these parking lots notably share its purpose.
Today, however, the growing demand for sustainability and environmental conservation has paved the way for the transformation of these spaces into a more efficient solar parking structure.
The advent of clean electricity as a power source not just for cars, motorcycles and other vehicles has inspired this genius idea. The installation of solar panels over vast parking spaces will allow people to harness the sun’s energy and reduce overall energy costs as well as prevent negative environmental impact.
Solar parking structure geniuses
Today, the number of companies developing solar pv powered parking lots are growing in number.
Top industry developers SolarCity, Envision Solar, SolarShade, Solarire Generation, Solar Wing and Sundial Energy Inc. have been on this track for quite some time now.
Solar City
For instance, Solar City has recently unveiled its ultra-fast mega-safe ZS Beam that easily allows attachment of solar panels to a parking lot’s shading structure at a much affordable cost than before.
This development aims to effectively reduce the cost of construction usually linked to solar parking systems.
Additionally, its Zep Solar line will make possible the construction of car parking structures that do not only provide protection to vehicles but allows generation of usable solar energy that slashes down its power cost significantly.
According to current reports from GTM Research, an annual growth of 180.2 megawatts in 2014 to 317.9 megawatts in 2016 is projected for US solar carports. This shows a 76 per cent increase in installed capacity.
Envision Solar
Envision Solar is the developer behind the turn-key photovoltaic shade system, Solar Tree. It is designed to work on a wide array of applications, sun protection, reduced carbon footprints, and support the advancement of electric vehicle infrastructure.
Each structure, which comes in easy-to-install system, can shade six standard parking spaces at a time while fully charging exact same number of electric vehicles. Each solar photovoltaic panel is tilted strategically at a 15-degree angle with built-in wire management system.
Solar Shade
Solar Shade Structures develops light gauge steel box beam designs – I-Beam and Box-Beam. These beams are engineered to withstand heavy loads and outdoor elements. Both beams come in semi, full and T cantilever structures with I-beams possessing a stronger, rustic and more efficient design.
Solaire
Multi-award winner Solaire boasts of being one of the best developers in transforming carports into beautiful power plants.
It has won the prestigious 2014 Project of the Year award in both Intersolar North America and SPG. It is also recognized by Greentech Media as one of the top 10 “cleantech” leaders in NYC.
Solaire also has 10 patents in the industry under its belt with groundbreaking projects across the country such as the Rutgers University, Dow Jones and the US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
Solar Wing
Solar Wing is another solar carport developer that features electric vehicle charging system on its carports. It boasts of artistic design and affordable costs with up to 25 years of warranty.
Sundial Energy
Sundial Energy, on the other hand, offers patented Uni-solar laminates and low slope zero-penetration solar roof solution, Solyndra. These solar PV modules optimize sunlight collectiong for more usable electricity.
