Solar Carport FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Here we've answered some of the most commonly asked questions about solar carports from our clients.

We've divided it to into sections to make it easier to find the answers you need. 

And if you can't find the answer to your question, please reach out and we'll be delighted to help.

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Solspan General FAQs

Find out what turnkey means, why carparks are good places to install carports and how to get a feasibility study.

Why is a car park a good place to install a solar carport?

A car park is a great place to install a solar carport for several reasons.

  • Increased ROI: A solar carport installation turns a carpark from largely wasted space into an electricity-generating powerhouse. Now, your carpark is not just a place to store cars but a means of decarbonising your operations and saving money on energy bills.
  • Huge Generation Capacity: A carpark offers a large blank canvas with a solar panel capacity which can be double, treble or quadruple the space offered by a rooftop.
  • Not Limited by Roof Design: It's often not possible to install solar panels over a whole roof due to the design, orientation or structural strength of the roof. A car park has none of these limitations.
  • Brand Statement: A solar carport installation makes an undeniable statement about your commitment to Net Zero and sustainability initiatives, to investors, clients and staff, as well as generating positive PR for your company.

What do you mean by 'turnkey'?

Turnkey means 'built and ready to use'. It means we take care of the whole process for you, from initial designs and surveys to groundworks, frame & solar installation & electrical works (including batteries and/or EV chargers). Everything.
We test then commission the installation and then hand it over to you, ready to start generating electricity. This enables you to focus on your business, rather than worrying about managing what is a complex and highly technical construction project.
 

Is it possible to cover a car park completely with solar panels? Not just rows of cars?

Yes, we have the ability to do this. Get in touch directly for more information.

What's wrong with putting solar panels on the roof of my premises?

Nothing is wrong with putting solar panels on your roof. In fact, we recommend it, if you can do it. However, a carpark can provide significantly more generation potential than a rooftop.

Not all roofs are strong enough to support solar panels, so a structural survey will be required to check this. You'll also need to check orientation as this can significantly affect the amount of energy generated.

Are you able to offer solar carport feasibility studies?

Yes. Our Solspan Discovery Report provides a detailed pack of information from expected carbon and financial savings to graphs showing the estimated power output of your carport through the year.

Based on your site and your data, the Solspan Discovery Report gives you the detail required to make informed decisions.

We offer two types of feasibility studies, a desktop report and an onsite report which includes a site survey.

Get in touch to find out more or request a feasibility study for your project.

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Solar Carport Financial FAQs

Discover likely ROI and payback times, expected electricity savings and financing options.

photo of solar panels generating money

What's the expected return on investment for a Solspan solar carport?

On average, payback times for a solar carport installation vary between 8 and 15 years.

While this is generally longer than a rooftop solar installation, it's important to bear in mind that the carport frame is a one-off investment that will last for generations. 

While solar panels do have a lifespan of around 25 years, they can be easily replaced on the original carport frame.

How much will electricity will I save with a solar carport?

You can use our Solar Savings Index calculator to calculate approximately how much electricity you can expect to save with a solar carport installation.

Input the number of spaces you would like to cover and your current electricity tariff to get an estimated yearly cost saving.

We also include a more accurate projection of energy cost savings in our quotes and feasibility studies.

Can I lease or finance my solar carport?

Yes. We work with Tower Leasing, a reputable leasing company, to provide financing options with monthly or quarterly payments.

Your finance agreement can be tailored to your requirements and is an ideal way to pay for a commercial solar carport installation over a longer period, when upfront investment isn't feasible.

In fact the cost savings the carport will produce can significantly offset or completely cover the cost of your repayments.

Find out more about our leasing offer or get in touch to discuss leasing options for your installation.

Discover more

Looking to decarbonise while boosting the bottom line?

Dicover our range of solar carport solutions for your sites. From wooden designs to no-foundation options, we help businesses of all types find the solution that works for them.

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Environmental & Carbon FAQs

Find out how much carbon a Solspan solar carport installation will save, options for wooden carports and the recycled content.

Novasol Timber Carport-2

How much carbon will we save with a solar carport?

You can find out how much carbon you can expect to save with our Solar Savings Index.

Input the number of spaces you want to cover to find out how much carbon you can expect to save over a year.

We also provide detailed projections of expected carbon savings in our quotes and feasibility studies.

Can I have a wood carport?

Yes. Our Novasol carport is made from PEFC-certified spruce glulam timber (along with components made from 99% recycled steel), reducing the overall environmental impact of your installation.

We use glulam timber because of its incredibly high strength to weight ratio, which provides far superior performance to traditional wood and comparable performance to steel.

This enables us to achieve large spans between posts and roof projections of up to 12m, the same as a steel carport.

What is the recycled content of the carports?

We try to use recycled steel as much as possible to minimise our environmental impact. For example, the steel components on our Novasol carports are manufactured from 99% recycled steel.

Installation of Solar Carports FAQ

Find the answers to your questions about installation, including lead times, roof projections, and warranties.

What is the maximum span between posts?

Using a Gradasol Max, we can achieve spans of up to 15m between posts.

This reduces the groundworks required, minimising cost and disruption.

Most of our carports can achieve spans between posts of 6m (Valasol) or 8m (Stilosol, Stilosol Plus, Novasol and Gradasol).

What is the maximum projection for a solar carport?

With a Stilosol Plus double roof carport, it's possible to have a roof projection of 16m.

The standard roof projection is 6m (for a single roof carport) or 12m (for a double roof)

Will I lose any parking spaces by installing a solar carport?

We design the carport to minimise its footprint and avoid encroaching on parking spaces as much as possible.

Unless you opt for a Valasol with concrete ballast foundations, you should not lose any parking spaces because of the posts.

What is the lead time?

Approximately 12-16 weeks.

After agreeing on a contract and receiving a PO, we do a site survey and request technical site data from you, including ground surveys, topography reports, site layouts, etc. (If you don't have these available, we can do them for a small additional cost).

From receiving these reports and carrying out the site survey, our average lead time to complete the installation is approximately 12-16 weeks.

NB This lead time could be extended if planning approvals are required.

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Solar Carport Technical FAQs

Discover the answers to your technical questions, like where to install the inverter and what angle your carport roof should be.

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What roof angle should I have for my carport?

The roof angle depends on the orientation of the carport, for example is it east/west or south facing? 

We adapt the roof angle between 5 and 12 degrees to optimise sun exposure and maximise electricity generation.

Where are inverters normally installed?

Inverter placement is quite flexible. They can be installed inside your building, or in a separate contained area in your car park.

If your carport is a Gradasol or Gradasol Max, you also have the option to install the inverters inside the posts.

We can advise on the best place to site your inverter depending on the layout of your site.

Can the carport be painted?

Yes. We can powdercoat your solar carports in a RAL colour of your choice.

Can I have battery storage with the carport?

Yes.

Battery storage may not always be necessary, but we can help you decide if and how many batteries you will need.

The batteries will be installed as part of our packaged alongside the inverters, solar panels and electrical works.

Where are the carports produced?

All our solar carports are manufactured in Europe, to keep quality high and transport emissions lower.

Get in touch

More questions? 

Contact us today with any questions you might have, or to find out how a solar carport installation would work for your business.

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