Solspan®'s Range of Commercial & Public Sector Carports

We design our Solspan® solar carports to be: 

  • Sustainable - made with materials with reduced environmental impact like glulam timber, recycled aluminium and cold-rolled steel
  • Accessible - designed to be easy to park under and for users to get in and out of cars 
  • Offer value for money - to ensure budgets are met while delivering a safe, long-lasting product

As part of Kensington Systems, our background in construction and large-scale canopy structures gives us over a decade of experience installing outdoor covered spaces, constantly innovating to keep our quality high and costs low.

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Mid Kent College Complete (7) EDITED

Sustainable, Accessible Solar Carport Solutions

Our Approach

As a specialist with decades of experience installing large-scale canopy structures  in the public sector, Solspan is a trusted delivery partner for local authorities, the NHS, schools and colleges. Our approach is built on three pillars:

Cost-effective: our solar carport solutions are value-engineered to maximise your solar output and minimise initial outlay, through innovations such as low-cost foundations whilst maintaining structural integrity. Our years of contracting experience mean that we're able to manage your project on your behalf without any middle parties.

Heritage: we are part of Kensington Systems and have been designing and installing large, complex external structures in sensitive, high-traffic locations for more than a decade. From schools and hospitals to public spaces, our public sector clients trust us to get the job done in environments where safety and minimal operational disruption are paramount.

Design: Quality, sustainability and ease-of-use are important to us, which is why we design our carports to avoid losing parking spaces and maximise accessibility for car users; we offer both functional steel designs and more aesthetic, sustainable timber options. 

 

From groundworks and structure only to a full-service turnkey installation including EV charging, battery storage or rooftop solar, we adapt to your needs.

Our Range of Solar Carports

Discover our wide range of solar carports, from robust steel to stunning timber and flexible aluminium designs. 

Steel Solar Carports

Steel Solar Carports

Solspan's steel carport systems are the go-to choice for large-scale commercial or public sector applications.

Designed for high performance, low maintenance, and seamless solar integration, they're engineered to handle the toughest environments.

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Timber Solar Carports

Timber Solar Carports

Our timber solar carports combine the natural beauty of wood with precision engineering to deliver solar carport structures that are as strong as they are striking.

Ideal for rural settings, eco-conscious projects in highly visible locations, and any site where aesthetics and sustainability matter.

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Aluminium Solar Carports

Aluminium Solar Carports

Our aluminium carports offer a more eco-friendly, corrosion-resistant alternative to steel.

With the option to choose surface-mounted ballast foundations, they are perfect for coastal locations or situations where underground foundations are not possible.

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Case study

Mid Kent College

As part of the college's ambitious 'ZERO' initiative to become Net Zero by 2030, three Gradasol steel solar carports were installed in the car park to provide renewable energy and hot water (thanks to the photovoltaic-thermal panels selected for the roof).

With a 303 kWp output, the 123-space installation is expected to generate a significant proportion of the college's energy going forward, reducing carbon and saving huge amounts of energy in the long term.

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Mid Kent College Complete EDITED LS

Download our brochure

Find out more about our product range in our brochure, including technical information.

Download brochure

Benefits of our Solar Carports & Canopies

Solspan Valasol Solar Carport - renewable energy

Value for Money

From groundworks and structure only to a full-service turnkey installation including EV charging, battery storage or rooftop solar, we adapt to your needs.

Solar Panel designs and materials

European-Sourced

All our materials are sourced in Europe, including renewable timber, steel and fixings, to ensure high quality and compliance with stringent quality standards including EN 1990, 1991 and 1993.

Avoiding shipping from the Far East also reduces transport emissions and cuts lead times.

 

Solar Powered Carport for Carparks

Accessible

While many low-cost carport designs feature large, bulky support posts, Solspan’s range is designed to keep support posts low-profile to avoid losing parking spaces or making it difficult to get in and out of cars – particularly for those with restricted mobility. 

Vitasol Carport websized

Sustainable

Our timber solar carport solutions are manufactured from long-lasting glulam timber, which offers a much more sustainable carport solution than traditional construction materials. Timber also requires smaller foundations as it weighs less, reducing carbon emissions further.

Project Management

As specialist solar carport contractors, we provide a full end-to-end service, including initial design and structural calculations to groundworks, installation and commissioning. 


We are experienced acting as a main contractor on complex projects, giving you a single point of contact and avoiding extra fees from middle parties.

Mid Kent College Complete (4) EDITED

Sectors we work with to provide Commercial Solar Carports

Local Councils

Deliver real progress on Net Zero goals while staying within tight budgets with Solspan's specialist expertise.

Our innovative support post design ensures no parking spaces are lost while maintaining accessibility and ease-of-use for everyone.

Healthcare

Keep disruption and impact on patients and staff to a minimum with Solspan's solar carports, which ensure accessibility for patients with restricted mobility while not losing any parking space.

Schools, Colleges & Universities

Solspan's timber solar carport designs offer a better-looking, more sustainable solution than traditional steel designs.

Manufacturing & Commercial

Solspan's innovative design minimises support post footprint and foundation requirements, maximising accessibility and car parking space.

Solar Carports & Canopies ROI

Are you considering a solar carport but not sure what the financial and environmental benefits could be?

Solar carports offer significant carbon and cost savings, shelter for vehicles and can provide energy for EV charging points. Our interactive calculator can help you determine what your site could produce.

Worked Example:

For a carport installation covering a total of 80 spaces (1000m² of solar panels):

CO2 Savings p/a : 28.6 tonnes*

Cost Savings p/a: £32,700*

EV Vehicles charged p/a: Approx 3,200*

Discover what cost and carbon savings you could expect from your carpark using our interactive calculator, the Solar Savings Index.

*NB Outputs are estimates only. For an accurate projection please contact us for more detailed analysis of your site.

Calculate your savings today
Solar Carport Structure with cars parked

Other Services

A laptop screen sitting on a table the screen is showing ROI modelling and graphs

Feasibility & ROI Consultancy

Our consultancy service helps you scope out your project, providing accurate output projections, costs and helping you make informed decisions.

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EV Charging 

Solar carports and EV charging are natural partners, and we can help you design and install EV infrastructure as part of your project.

large solar storage batteries in a fenced compound in a car park

Battery & Energy Storage Solutions

Battery and energy storage solutions are becoming increasingly popular as a way to balance energy generation and demand peaks, and enabling your organisation to make full use of the power your solar array generates.

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Maintenance & Asset Management

A solar carport installation is a valuable asset and as such needs to be regularly maintained. Our dedicated maintenance and monitoring service helps to ensure your installation is safe and generating at optimal capacity.

How much does a solar carport installation cost?

The cost of a solar carport installation can vary hugely depending on the design, materials used and additional features or bespoke shapes.

However, you can expect to pay between £1,200 and £3,000 per kilowatt peak (kWp).

In general, the cost per kilowatt peak reduces as the number of spaces covered increases.

For an accurate estimate, please contact us for a quote.

Get in touch today
Mid Kent College install round 1 (edited) (2)

What our customers say

'They were polite and professional and their products are high quality - we're very happy with the end result.'

Project Manager - Skanska UK

Add a Solspan® Solar Carport to your car park

If you'd like to learn more about our Solspan® range, download our brochure today.

Download our brochure
Solspan Solar Carport for Car Parks

What do Solspan® Solar Carport customers receive?

Onsite visit & feasibility study

As part of our initial assessment, we'll visit your site to see what it's really like, check ground conditions, orientation, parking layout and other important points that are difficult to pick up just from drawings.

A comprehensive quote

You'll receive a quote and report demonstrating costs, expected outputs and ROI, as well as the estimated money and carbon emissions the carport will save you.

We'll also provide visualisations so you can see how it will look and present to colleagues and stakeholders.

Complete project management

We act as your main contractor, managing all aspects of the project and other tradespeople as needed.

We deal with your procurement and project management teams directly, avoiding the need for other middle parties.

Let's cut carbon and save money with cost-effective, user-friendly solar carports

Get in touch with our team to explore your options. 

Get in touch
Outdoor Solar Carpark Canopy

Our Turnkey Solar Carport installation process

At Kensington Systems, we offer end-to-end project management, with a single contact that will keep you informed throughout the whole solar carport installation process, giving you the opportunity to speak with someone directly if you have any queries.

Survey Solar Carports

Survey

We carry out a full site survey before we provide a design and quote. The survey will include; electrical survey, geotechnical survey and ground scans, checking access to the site, and checking any restrictions that may impact installation of the solar carport

Designing Solar Carports & Canopy Structures

Design

We work with our engineers and groundworkers to put together a drawing pack, including solar carport output calculations, diagrams, drawings and visuals, so you can see what the final product will look like and how it will perform. We can make any adjustments based on customer feedback.

Installation of Solar Carports

Installation

Lead time from design to installation will be around 2-3 months. We will prepare the site, digging and pouring concrete for the foundation of the solar carport, EV charging points and trenches for electrics. This is followed by the installation of the solar carport, solar panels, inverters, batteries and EV charging points. Installation times will depend on the project size.

Mid Kent College Complete (2) EDITED

Commissioning

Once the installation of the solar carport is complete, our experienced electricians will connect the solar panels and inverters to the main fuse box on the site. Everything will be set up and connected, ready for the solar carport to be used.

FAQs

Can I charge EV's with solar panel carports?

Yes, the great thing about our solar panel carports is that the power generated from the panels can be used to charge EVs. The charging points can be installed under the carport.

How long does a solar carport take to install?

From the initial quote to completing and commissioning the installation, the lead time for a Solspan® solar carport can vary between three and five months.

The lead in time varies depending on the size and complexity of the project (larger projects will take longer to install). There are also factors outside our control, such as waiting for planning applications and permits from the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to be approved.

How much does it cost to install a solar carport for my business?

We can't give a definitive answer to this question, as every project is bespoke and every client has different requirements. Contact us for a cost estimate for your project. 

How will my business benefit from having solar carports?

Our solar carports can help you achieve your environmental goals, by doing this you will be generating renewable energy which can be used for electricity within your business or to provide EV charging for customers and staff.

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