Solar CarPort: parking that generates energy [price, benefits and how to build one]

Solar parking – also called a solar garage, photovoltaic parking, solar carport or photovoltaic carport – is a smart concept for covering vehicles using solar PV panels. This solution is applicable to homes and residential condominiums as well as to retail businesses, industries and rural properties.

As a result, the solution offers a double benefit.

That is because, while they protect vehicles from the sun, the panels capture its light and convert it into electricity.

This energy is then used to meet on-site consumption or fed into the power grid to generate energy credits.

Photovoltaic Carport installations are very similar to ground-mounted solar system projects. They use metal solar panel support structures installed on the ground.

By providing secure and sturdy mounting for the panels, the structures also ensure ideal positioning relative to the sun. This optimizes light capture and electricity generation.

Another great advantage of solar parking is that it requires no additional space to install the structures and PV panels, since the same canopy structure is used to capture sunlight.

See the main benefits:

• During the day, the Solar Carport panels protect vehicles from sunlight while capturing that light and converting it into electricity;
• A solar inverter installed inside the property receives this energy and adapts it to the power grid standard;
• The energy can then be used to supply on-site consumption and, if there is any left over, the surplus is fed into the utility grid and generates energy credits for you.
• At night, or on cloudy and rainy days, energy from the grid is used to offset (fully or partially) the system's production.

For this reason, many establishments such as condominiums, pharmacies, hypermarkets, shopping malls, fuel stations, airports and government agencies already use this concept.

The costs of a photovoltaic solar carport structure, when compared to a conventional steel parking structure, are very attractive. In addition, another interesting point is the value it adds to the business and its brand, showing it to be innovative and up to date. Undoubtedly aligned with modern technologies and concerned about nature.

They require little maintenance (at most twice a year), involving cleaning the panels and mechanical and electrical maintenance of the equipment. This is because photovoltaic technology is highly durable, especially in the case of a carport, whose support structures are of excellent quality and hold several certifications.

Energy Credits and Savings on Your Electricity Bill

The energy credit system was created in 2012 by Aneel (Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency) through its Normative Resolution 482.

The document brings together the set of rules that created the Distributed Generation (DG) segment in Brazil.

This is where energy credits come in.

Each 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy fed into the grid by the system is converted into 1 energy credit, which later offsets 1 kWh consumed from the utility.

Depending on the size of the project, the credits generated in the month can “pay” the entire bill.

This gives you savings of 95% on your electricity bill.

Credits may even be left over, and they remain valid for up to 5 years.

Other ways to generate energy with a Solar Carport

In 2015, Aneel revised the original DG rules and enacted its Normative Resolution 687. The main new feature of the regulation was the inclusion of 3 brand-new generation modalities.

• Remote self-consumption;
• In remote self-consumption, the system can be installed on another property and the credits generated offset consumption at the location where the owner consumes energy, provided both properties are served by the same power utility.
• Shared generation;
• Two or more people/companies join together to install a system that serves all of them with the credits generated.
• Developments with multiple consumer units.

Advantages of the Solar Carport

1. Double Gain (shade and energy)Unlike rooftop installations, with a Carport you get twice the use out of the solar panels. While protecting vehicles from the sun and other weather conditions, the panels are capturing radiation and generating energy.
2. Light captureIf the panels generate energy from sunlight, their faces must be turned toward the sun in the most favorable way possible. This is easier to achieve with a carport structure, since it is manufactured and installed according to a prior study of solar incidence at the site.
3. Long service lifeA solar array (group of panels) carries a warranty of at least 25 years, but can easily last more than 30.
4. Low maintenanceDuring this period, periodic maintenance is minimal. Only twice a year at most, barring any unforeseen events.
5. DurabilityOne of the reasons for this low volume of inspections and repairs is the high durability of photovoltaic technology.
6. Fast Return on InvestmentFrom the moment you start saving on your electricity bill, you are getting back the money you invested in your Carport.
7. SavingsWith the right number of solar panels, a photovoltaic Carport can produce all the energy consumed on site or at another property.
8. SustainabilityFinally, installing a Solar Carport means promoting environmental preservation with green energy.

Interested?

Tessa has specialists who can analyze the best option for your energy generation needs.

Invest in the future with Tessa! Talk to one of our consultants and turn your project into an example of sustainability and efficiency.

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