--- title: Which Areas Of The UK Would Benefit Most From Solar Carports? description: Discover how solar carports can transform UK cities and businesses into energy hubs, reducing costs, promoting net zero, and boosting EV infrastructure. image: https://solspan.uk/hubfs/Image%2021.webp --- [![SolSpan logo](https://solspan.uk/hubfs/SolSpan%20logo.svg)](https://solspan.uk/) - [Our Products](https://solspan.uk/solspan-solar-carports-car-parks-commercial) - [Steel Solar Carports](https://solspan.uk/steel-solar-carports) - [Timber Solar Carports](https://solspan.uk/timber-solar-carports) - [Aluminium Solar Carports](https://solspan.uk/aluminium-solar-carports-solspan) - [Our Services](https://solspan.uk/solar-carport-consultancy) - [Solar Savings Index](https://solspan.uk/solar-savings-index) - [About Us](https://solspan.uk/about-us-solspan) - [Projects](https://solspan.uk/featured-projects) - [Gallery](https://solspan.uk/image-gallery-solspan-solar-carports-car-parks) - Resources - [Blog](https://solspan.uk/blog) - [FAQs](https://solspan.uk/faq) [Contact us](https://cta-eu1.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/click?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKd9dx1nE%2FU60iYX8T4msbGgjWSEwHsjKuEJX5gLBzWTJxm6KuU%2Bzh%2BtNr9FiknGlgUFzcQvPTarP3TO5%2B5L9yXX4%2FSESOjClGbsx05SEIiH%2B46OPMySrjLIwQ%2BJcx%2BRDn84CgH79ytfwBQ9Nwj6NKdgHGTrthIMfhrG86tEuFL34Of4REfJ15ZUnKZ2gHLsj8KcMPhS7p3kvMpkBgZN9FNqWagE0b8&portalId=144642568) ![UK Areas Benefitting from Solar Carports](https://solspan.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Image%2021.webp?width=800&height=500&name=Image%2021.webp) - [Blog](https://solspan.uk/blog/tag/blog) - [Solar Carports](https://solspan.uk/blog/tag/solar-carports) # Which Areas Of The UK Would Benefit Most From Solar Carports? Posted Apr 4, 2025 10:08:00 AM by [Admin](https://solspan.uk/blog/author/admin) [![Share on facebook](https://solspan.uk/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Kensington%20Systems%20Theme/images/icons/facebook-share.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://solspan.uk/blog/areas-benefit-from-solar-carports&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [![Share on twitter](https://solspan.uk/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Kensington%20Systems%20Theme/images/icons/twitter-share.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://solspan.uk/blog/areas-benefit-from-solar-carports&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://solspan.uk/blog/areas-benefit-from-solar-carports&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Which%20Areas%20Of%20The%20UK%20Would%20Benefit%20Most%20From%20Solar%20Carports) [![Share on linkedin](https://solspan.uk/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Kensington%20Systems%20Theme/images/icons/linkedin-share.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://solspan.uk/blog/areas-benefit-from-solar-carports&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [![Share on email](https://solspan.uk/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Kensington%20Systems%20Theme/images/icons/email-share.svg)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://solspan.uk/blog/areas-benefit-from-solar-carports&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://solspan.uk/blog/areas-benefit-from-solar-carports&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) The latest data on carparks estimates there are between 17,000 to 20,000 across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. [Solar carports](https://solspan.uk/solspan-solar-carports-car-parks-commercial), therefore, represent a gigantic untapped energy source that could be providing cheap electricity to the UK and helping us reach net zero by 2050. A common myth about solar power is that it only works when the sun is shining and therefore only southern counties benefit. However, solar is suited to all parts of the UK because it is powered by light radiance, not direct sunlight.  ## Towns & cities have higher demand Many carparks sit alongside the services we need and rely on including hospitals, schools, supermarkets and shopping centres as well as our workplaces and homes, leisure centres, cinemas and stadiums, all concentrated in the exact areas where there is a high demand for electricity such as cities and towns. As such, solar carports are ideal for producing electricity for services such as hospitals and schools as well as businesses and factories with any excess being sold onto the national grid to pay for the initial investment. Solar carports also provide extensive [EV charging capabilities](https://solspan.uk/solar-savings-index), translating into the ability to charge 166 million EVs annually for large businesses in the UK, and an astounding 1.66 billion EVs over ten years. ![Solar EV Charging ](https://144642568.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hub/144642568/hubfs/Image%2017.webp?width=1200&length=1200&name=Image%2017.webp) [EV charging points](https://solspan.uk/) provide customers with an opportunity to charge their cars while they shop or visit a sports centre or cinema for a couple of hours, providing extra revenue for shops and businesses as well as promoting net zero to their customers and helping to influence behavioural change. ## Factories and businesses as energy hubs Many businesses have plentiful parking for employees and as such can use their carparks to cut energy costs and help them to move towards net zero. Some forward-thinking companies are already reaping the benefits from solar carports such as the Crewe-based [Bentley](https://www.bentleymedia.com/en/newsitem/838) factory whose manufacturing operations have been powered by solar or certified green energy since 2019. The 27 carparking rows, equal to 1,378 carparking spaces, have a capacity of 2.7MW and cover an area of 16,426m² making the high-end car manufacturer the owner of the largest solar carport in the UK and cutting CO₂ by an estimated 3,300 tonnes per year. Again, solar carports provide a great opportunity for businesses to offer EV charging points to employees as a perk of the job, or at low cost. ## Savings are a no-brainer [Solspan’s](https://solspan.uk/about-us-solspan) research reveals that UK businesses could save more than £1.4 billion over the next decade by installing solar carparks. We [crunched the data](https://www.nationalgrid.com/) on 8,000 large businesses operating in the UK revealing they could save 9.3 million tonnes of C02 annually or 92.6 million tonnes over ten years, equivalent to taking approximately 2 million cars off the road or powering around 1.2 million homes annually.  Our analysis provides customised recommendations for various industries such as including oil and gas, banking, insurance, and mining by considering regional sunlight hours. [![What Carbon Savings Could Your Carpark Offer? Our Solar Savings Index Calculator provides estimated carbon emissions avoided based on the size of your carport installation.   ](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/144642568/interactive-201771468994.png)](https://solspan.uk/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIVWseabIu2H78gi3WSlFUL%2Bysgw%2BO%2BRk25bJKpecC%2FfNJvnYxwTqP1zvyVi0xJZUAq9AzjRfJKJLN140MnrZEpfGex%2FcaVlhPaANyzgDYLYtU2cGLUt10xyF06Uz9rioGP2a4SmxcS6UnHl%2FwumAyuCqjoKHvfChnDKy%2Bt%2FtMjLmDM%2B5N%2BVKS8&webInteractiveContentId=201771468994&portalId=144642568) ## The Great Grid Update However, over the last few years, potential renewable projects have been hampered and, in some cases stalled, by a lack of grid connections. A report by the cross-party [Environmental Audit Committee](https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45077/documents/223429/default/) published in 2024 found that UK renewables projects are facing waits of up to 12 to 14 years for new transmission infrastructure enabling them to connect to the grid. To combat the problem, the National Grid has now started the [Great Grid Update](https://www.nationalgrid.com/), with 17 major infrastructure projects which will scale up the grid and update existing networks. The update will increase the grid’s capacity to connect to renewable projects such as solar carports as well as solar and wind farms and transmit clean energy more efficiently around the county. In addition, the government commissioned [The National Energy Systems Operator (NESO)](https://www.neso.energy/news/our-clean-power-2030-advice-government) report [*Our Clean Power 2030*](https://www.neso.energy/news/our-clean-power-2030-advice-government) providing advice to government to replace the current energy system of ‘first come first serve’ with one that that prioritises quicker connections for green energy projects that are ready and needed. [Ofgem](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-release/clean-power-2030-one-step-closer-proposed-new-fast-track-grid-connections-system-unveiled), the UK’s independent energy regulator, hopes this will lead to the first projects connected and operational from 2026. [Contact us](https://solspan.uk/contact-solar-carports-carparks-solspan) for more. [![Contact Us Today](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/144642568/interactive-103886645718.png)](https://solspan.uk/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLL%2BEZI5xR8Lc1uMaoeN65MoM6caVyZcD9gpbyZ3r8%2BouXRp7%2Bbdg5caTrV4dUgclU9Xa%2BCt1ntaKrvhbrtvAYOALVx8GzR0aoes1CPRuGxisE%2Fvm3YGU90OhHOjJH15gUOGaK0%2Fn7MbovsFlYVX7VeHEGkk5R2RRYJr8j0w%2FhDwCAhUUD%2BIS6bHJBJeLiJAoTvlGP%2BbsV%2BeLXV%2FNvI%3D&webInteractiveContentId=103886645718&portalId=144642568) ### Related content ### [![Solar Carport Structure Installation](https://solspan.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Mid%20Kent%20College%20Complete%20EDITED%20LS.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=Mid%20Kent%20College%20Complete%20EDITED%20LS.jpg) What is the ROI on a solar carport installation? And how is it calculated? Did you know that UK businesses could save more than £1.4 billion and 570,000 tonnes of... Continue reading](https://solspan.uk/blog/roi-on-solar-carport-installation) ### [![Councils making use of solar caport canopies & covers](https://solspan.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Mid%20Kent%20College%20Solar%20Carport%20(14).jpg?width=600&height=400&name=Mid%20Kent%20College%20Solar%20Carport%20(14).jpg) Plug Into Profit | How Local Councils Can Maximise EV Charging Revenue Cash-strapped councils across the UK are installing thousands of EV charging points in... Continue reading](https://solspan.uk/blog/how-local-councils-can-maximise-ev-charging-revenue) ### [![Solar Carport structure](https://solspan.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/hp-slide-1.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=hp-slide-1.jpg) Solar Module Prices Are Rising — What This Means for Public-Sector Decarbonisation Projects in 2026 After more than a decade of steady declines, global solar module prices are now moving... Continue reading](https://solspan.uk/blog/solar-module-prices-rising-2026) ![SolSpan logo - inverse](https://solspan.uk/hubfs/SolSpan%20logo%20-%20inverse.svg) Our high quality turnkey solar carport solutions, projects and installations help our clients realise their sustainability goals whilst generating a return on investment and enhancing brand equity. Connect with us [linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/solspan-uk/about/) #### Solspan UK - [About Solspan](https://solspan.uk/about-us-solspan) - [Solspan Gallery](https://solspan.uk/image-gallery-solspan-solar-carports-car-parks) - [Blog & News](https://solspan.uk/blog) - [Solar Savings](https://solspan.uk/solar-savings-index) - [Solar FAQs](https://solspan.uk/faq) #### Solspan Carports [Solar Carports & Canopies](https://solspan.uk/solspan-solar-carports-car-parks-commercial) [Steel Solar Carports](https://solspan.uk/steel-solar-carports) [Timber Solar Caports](https://solspan.uk/timber-solar-carports) [Aluminium Solar Carports](https://solspan.uk/aluminium-solar-carports-solspan) [Solar Carport Consultancy](https://solspan.uk/solar-carport-consultancy) #### Get in Touch [Contact Us](https://solspan.uk/contact-solar-carports-carparks-solspan) [0117 205 2815](tel:01172052815) [sales@solspan.uk](mailto:sales@solspan.uk)   **42-46 Lodge Causeway** **Fishponds** **Bristol** **BS16 3JB** Copyright © Solspan 2026. All rights reserved. - [Terms of sale](https://solspan.uk/terms-and-conditions-of-sale) - [Terms of use](https://solspan.uk/terms-and-conditions-of-use) - [Privacy Policy](https://solspan.uk/privacy-policy) - [Cookie Policy](https://solspan.uk/cookie-policy) - [Company Policies & Documents](https://solspan.uk/policies) // New Custom Render ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Admin", "url" : "https://solspan.uk/blog/author/admin" }, "dateModified" : "2025-04-16T14:24:20.023Z", "datePublished" : "2025-04-04T09:08:00.000Z", "headline" : "Which Areas Of The UK Would Benefit Most From Solar Carports?", "image" : [ "https://solspan.uk/hubfs/Image%2021.webp" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://solspan.uk/blog/areas-benefit-from-solar-carports", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://solspan.uk/hubfs/SolSpan%20logo.svg" } } } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which Areas Of The UK Would Benefit Most From Solar Carports?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The latest data on carparks estimates there are between 17,000 to 20,000 across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Solar carports, therefore, represent a gigantic untapped energy source that could be providing cheap electricity to the UK and helping us reach net zero by 2050. A common myth about solar power is that it only works when the sun is shining and therefore only southern counties benefit. However, solar is suited to all parts of the UK because it is powered by light radiance, not direct sunlight.  Towns & cities have higher demand Many carparks sit alongside the services we need and rely on including hospitals, schools, supermarkets and shopping centres as well as our workplaces and homes, leisure centres, cinemas and stadiums, all concentrated in the exact areas where there is a high demand for electricity such as cities and towns. As such, solar carports are ideal for producing electricity for services such as hospitals and schools as well as businesses and factories with any excess being sold onto the national grid to pay for the initial investment. Solar carports also provide extensive EV charging capabilities, translating into the ability to charge 166 million EVs annually for large businesses in the UK, and an astounding 1.66 billion EVs over ten years. EV charging points provide customers with an opportunity to charge their cars while they shop or visit a sports centre or cinema for a couple of hours, providing extra revenue for shops and businesses as well as promoting net zero to their customers and helping to influence behavioural change. Factories and businesses as energy hubs Many businesses have plentiful parking for employees and as such can use their carparks to cut energy costs and help them to move towards net zero. Some forward-thinking companies are already reaping the benefits from solar carports such as the Crewe-based Bentley factory whose manufacturing operations have been powered by solar or certified green energy since 2019. The 27 carparking rows, equal to 1,378 carparking spaces, have a capacity of 2.7MW and cover an area of 16,426m² making the high-end car manufacturer the owner of the largest solar carport in the UK and cutting CO₂ by an estimated 3,300 tonnes per year. Again, solar carports provide a great opportunity for businesses to offer EV charging points to employees as a perk of the job, or at low cost. Savings are a no-brainer Solspan’s research reveals that UK businesses could save more than £1.4 billion over the next decade by installing solar carparks. We crunched the data on 8,000 large businesses operating in the UK revealing they could save 9.3 million tonnes of C02 annually or 92.6 million tonnes over ten years, equivalent to taking approximately 2 million cars off the road or powering around 1.2 million homes annually.  Our analysis provides customised recommendations for various industries such as including oil and gas, banking, insurance, and mining by considering regional sunlight hours. The Great Grid Update However, over the last few years, potential renewable projects have been hampered and, in some cases stalled, by a lack of grid connections. A report by the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee published in 2024 found that UK renewables projects are facing waits of up to 12 to 14 years for new transmission infrastructure enabling them to connect to the grid. To combat the problem, the National Grid has now started the Great Grid Update, with 17 major infrastructure projects which will scale up the grid and update existing networks. The update will increase the grid’s capacity to connect to renewable projects such as solar carports as well as solar and wind farms and transmit clean energy more efficiently around the county. In addition, the government commissioned The National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) report Our Clean Power 2030 providing advice to government to replace the current energy system of ‘first come first serve’ with one that that prioritises quicker connections for green energy projects that are ready and needed. Ofgem, the UK’s independent energy regulator, hopes this will lead to the first projects connected and operational from 2026. Contact us for more." } } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.solspan.uk/", "@type" : "LocalBusiness", "additionalType" : [ "http://www.productontology.org/id/Solar_panel", "http://www.productontology.org/id/Solar_canopy", "http://www.productontology.org/id/Carport" ], "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "GB", "addressLocality" : "Bristol", "addressRegion" : "Bristol", "postalCode" : "BS16 3JB", "streetAddress" : "42-46 Lodge Causeway, Fishponds, Bristol" }, "aggregateRating" : { "@type" : "AggregateRating", "bestRating" : 5, "ratingValue" : 5.0, "reviewCount" : 1, "worstRating" : 1 }, "contactPoint" : { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "areaServed" : [ "Bristol" ], "availableLanguage" : null, "contactOption" : "", "contactType" : "customer service", "email" : "sales@solspan.uk", "telephone" : "0117 205 2815" }, "description" : "Solspan UK is one of the UK's leading suppliers and installers of commercial solar carport solutions. We specialise in providing turnkey solutions and a seamless, stress-free experience for our clients. Our end-to-end project management approach takes care of every aspect, from initial designs, groundworks, installation and electrical work to final commissioning. Deliver on your sustainability goals and meet legal obligations without the stress.", "geo" : { "@type" : "GeoCoordinates", "latitude" : "51.473831", "longitude" : "-2.528590" }, "logo" : "https://solspan.uk/hubfs/SolSpan%20logo.svg", "name" : "Solspan UK", "openingHours" : [ "Mo 07.00 – 16.30", "Tu 07.00 – 16.30", "We 07.00 – 16.30", "Th 07.00 – 16.30", "Fr 07.00 – 16.30", "Sa Closed", "Su Closed" ], "priceRange" : "$$", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/solspan-uk/" ], "telephone" : "0117 205 2815", "url" : "https://www.solspan.uk/" } ```