Solar carports — canopy structures over car parking areas fitted with photovoltaic panels — represent one of the most underexploited opportunities in UK commercial solar development. They offer a combination of benefits that ground-mount and rooftop solar cannot always match: dual use of land, shade and weather protection for vehicles, EV charging integration, and high visibility for corporate sustainability commitments. Yet despite these advantages, the UK solar carport market remains relatively underdeveloped compared to markets in France, Germany and the Netherlands.
The planning advantage
One of the most significant advantages of solar carports over ground-mount solar is the planning treatment. In many cases, solar carports can be installed under permitted development rights in commercial and industrial settings, avoiding the need for a full planning application. Where planning permission is required, the dual-use argument — the structure provides covered parking as well as generating electricity — can be a powerful one with local planning authorities, particularly in locations where additional parking infrastructure would be broadly welcomed.
The financial case
The financial case for solar carports has strengthened considerably as panel and mounting system costs have fallen. A typical commercial solar carport will generate electricity at a cost well below the current UK commercial electricity price, delivering bill savings from day one of operation. With the addition of EV charging — using solar-generated electricity to charge staff and visitor vehicles — the return on investment improves further. Battery storage integration allows the system to shift generation to periods of higher value, including grid export during peak pricing periods.
EV charging integration
The rapid growth in electric vehicle adoption in the UK creates a powerful co-investment opportunity with solar carports. EV charging infrastructure requires significant electrical capacity, and solar generation co-located with charging reduces the grid import required, reducing infrastructure costs and electricity bills simultaneously. For sites with ambitions to provide free or low-cost EV charging to staff or customers, solar carports can make this economically viable.
Our solar carport experience
CPP has supported solar carport development for a range of commercial and local authority clients, including feasibility studies, planning applications, technical specifications and contractor procurement. If you have a large car park and would like to explore the potential for solar carports, contact us at info@cpp.consulting.