Solar carports are quickly becoming one of the most practical and visible forms of distributed solar generation. By turning parking lots into power plants, they combine two critical functions which are the energy production and shading, while bringing renewable generation closer to where it’s actually used.
From corporate campuses and EV charging hubs to municipal facilities, carport PV systems are being installed at record pace. But with this growth come new design challenges and even more complex regulatory questions.
Engineering and Efficiency Considerations
Carport PV systems are structurally different from rooftop or ground-mounted arrays. They must handle dynamic wind loads, snow accumulation, and vehicle clearance while maintaining optimal tilt angles for energy generation.
Despite their growing popularity, solar carports often sit in a gray zone of zoning laws and permitting regulations. In some U.S. jurisdictions, they’re treated as both electrical systems and building structures, meaning developers must satisfy both NEC Article 690 (solar PV systems) and IBC Section 3102 (fabric structures).
While residential rooftops and large solar farms have matured policy frameworks, carports often face fragmented permitting pathways. Streamlining these could accelerate deployment significantly, especially at commercial and public sites. Some states are already exploring pre-approved carport solar designs and standardized interconnection packages to reduce project lead times.
The Road Ahead
Solar carports occupy a sweet spot between distributed and utility-scale energy which is clean, visible, and local. But to reach their full potential, we’ll need more consistent rules, faster permitting, and engineering standards that balance safety with scalability.
What’s your view?
From corporate campuses and EV charging hubs to municipal facilities, carport PV systems are being installed at record pace. But with this growth come new design challenges and even more complex regulatory questions.
Engineering and Efficiency Considerations
Carport PV systems are structurally different from rooftop or ground-mounted arrays. They must handle dynamic wind loads, snow accumulation, and vehicle clearance while maintaining optimal tilt angles for energy generation.
- Module choice matters: Monocrystalline panels dominate the space, though some developers are experimenting with thin-film modules for lighter weight and better diffuse-light performance.
- Wiring and conduit routing require additional design considerations for aesthetics and safety, often leading to higher installation labor costs.
- Bifacial modules are increasingly popular in carports, capturing reflected light from paved surfaces to boost output by 5–15%, depending on albedo and structure height.
Despite their growing popularity, solar carports often sit in a gray zone of zoning laws and permitting regulations. In some U.S. jurisdictions, they’re treated as both electrical systems and building structures, meaning developers must satisfy both NEC Article 690 (solar PV systems) and IBC Section 3102 (fabric structures).
- Structural permits: Local authorities may require stamped calculations for column foundations, especially in seismic or high-wind regions.
- Electrical permitting: Rapid shutdown, grounding, and labeling standards under NEC 2023 now extend to carport-mounted systems.
- Fire codes: The clearance under canopies must ensure access for emergency vehicles and prevent heat buildup under modules.
- Interconnection timelines: Since most carports feed directly into on-site loads or EV chargers, interconnection studies often fall under Rule 21 (California) or similar distributed generation frameworks in other states.
While residential rooftops and large solar farms have matured policy frameworks, carports often face fragmented permitting pathways. Streamlining these could accelerate deployment significantly, especially at commercial and public sites. Some states are already exploring pre-approved carport solar designs and standardized interconnection packages to reduce project lead times.
The Road Ahead
Solar carports occupy a sweet spot between distributed and utility-scale energy which is clean, visible, and local. But to reach their full potential, we’ll need more consistent rules, faster permitting, and engineering standards that balance safety with scalability.
What’s your view?
- Have you seen inconsistent permitting slow down carport projects?
- Should carport PVs be treated as a separate category under renewable energy codes?
- And will bifacial or lightweight module technology finally make them cost-competitive at scale?
