How Much Does a Solar Carport Cost?

There is no single price for a solar carport because the cost depends on the size and specification of both the carport and solar PV system. As a broad UK guide, a residential solar carport can commonly fall somewhere in the region of £10,000 to £20,000+, while larger, more sophisticated installations can cost considerably more.

A useful rule of thumb used across the industry is roughly £10,000 per parking space once groundworks, frame, panels and the electrical connection are all included, however, this rises with higher specifications, added lighting, fascias or branding. As a result, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than a fixed market price. 

Pricing for solar carports is higher per kilowatt-peak (kWp) than standard roof-mounted PV. This premium stems from ground engineering, structural steel or aluminium, concrete foundations and underground cabling. Kilowatt-peak (kWp) is a unit of measurement used in solar energy to describe the maximum theoretical power output a solar panel or solar system can produce.

In this guide, we cover the estimated costs for residential and commercial solar carports in the UK, inclusive of the main factors which influence the overall price of these energy-generating canopies.

Residential Solar Carport Cost

• Single Carport: 2.5 kWp – 3 kWp = £10,000 – £12,000
• Double Carport: 5 kWp – 7.5 kWp = £15,000 – £20,000
• Carport with EV Charger: 5 kWp – 7.5 kWp = £15,000 – £24,000
• Carport with EV Charger & Battery Storage: 5 kWp – 10 kWp = £18,000 – £30,000

Commercial Solar Carport Cost

• Small Commercial Carport (20 Bays): 30 kWp – 50 kWp = £36,000 – £60,000
• Medium Commercial Carport (100 Bays): 150 kWp – 200 kWp = £150,000 – £210,000

Main Factors Driving the Cost of Solar Carports

• Size of the Carport: A single-car carport will naturally require less structural material and fewer solar panels than a two-car or multi-bay structure, hence this will consequently affect the overall cost.

• Structural Design: The choice of material and design affects the final price as well. This is because aluminium and steel structures can differ in material costs, fabrication, finishing and installation requirements.

• Solar Panel Specification: Solar panels are available in different sizes, efficiencies and prices. Higher-efficiency panels can generate more electricity from a given roof area, which can be particularly useful where the available carport roof is limited.

• An Inverter: Various inverter technologies and capacities have different costs. The inverter should however be appropriately sized for the PV array and designed around the intended electrical system.

• Battery Storage: Battery storage can substantially increase the initial cost as its purpose is to store electricity generated when production exceeds immediate demand, so that it can potentially be used later. 

• EV Charging: An EV charger can make the system particularly attractive for electric vehicle owners because solar generation could potentially be directed towards vehicle charging. However, this comes at an additional cost.

• Groundworks and Electrical Installation: Ground conditions, foundations, cable routes, distance to the consumer unit or distribution board, plus the location of other electrical equipment can all affect installation requirements and costs.

Conclusion

The cost of a solar carport varies enormously with scale and specification, from roughly £10,000 for a modest domestic single-bay system, up to hundreds of thousands of pounds for a large commercial canopy.

Is it worth the investment? This depends on what you are trying to achieve. A solar carport should not be evaluated solely on whether the solar panels generate enough electricity to recover their entire installation cost. The structure itself also provides a useful function by creating covered parking.

The financial case becomes more interesting when the solar carport is used alongside an EV, battery storage or a property with substantial daytime electricity consumption. Nonetheless, projected savings should always be treated as estimates rather than guarantees.

Solar generation varies with weather, orientation, shading and system design, while electricity prices and export payments can change over time. As a result, a reputable quotation should ideally show the proposed system size, expected generation and assumptions used to calculate potential savings.

This article is intended as general guidance and reflects UK market conditions as understood at the time of writing. Costs can change over time, always confirm current figures and requirements before committing to a project.

What is a Solar Carport?

A solar carport is a covered parking structure with solar PV panels incorporated into its roof. The structure is designed to serve two purposes, the canopy to provide shelter for vehicles and the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity from sunlight. 

Solar panels, contain photovoltaic cells that generate direct current (DC) electricity when exposed to sunlight. The electricity generated by the panels can then be converted into usable alternating current (AC) electricity using an inverter. PV panels do not need direct, bright sunshine to generate electricity. They can still produce electricity on cloudy days, although their output is generally lower than under stronger sunlight.

This makes them particularly interesting for residential and commercial property owners who would like to make more use of their parking space areas in the UK. The energy generated from these structures can potentially be used within the property, to charge electric vehicles, stored in battery reserves or exported to the electricity grid, depending on how the system has been designed and connected.

The amount of electricity a solar carport generates does not only depend on the number of panels installed. Factors such as the orientation, panel angle, shading, panel efficiency, system size, local weather conditions and the amount of sunlight available all affect generation. Therefore, two solar carports with identical dimensions can still produce different amounts of electricity.

What Components Form a Solar Carport?

• A structural frame, usually manufactured from aluminium or steel
• A roof designed to accommodate solar PV panels
• Solar photovoltaic panels
• An inverter to convert the electricity generated by the panels into usable AC electricity
• Electrical cabling and protection equipment
• Mounting systems connecting the panels to the structure
• Optional battery storage
• Optional electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment

How Long Do Solar Carports Last?

A properly designed solar carport can provide many years of service, but there is an important distinction between the carport structure and the solar PV equipment, as they do not necessarily have the same lifespan.

Carport Structure

The structural frame can potentially last considerably longer than the electrical components when it is properly designed, manufactured and maintained, with an expected lifespan of 25-40+ years. Aluminium structures can be particularly suitable for outdoor applications because aluminium does not rust in the same way as conventional untreated steel. However, the quality of the design, materials and installation matters as much as the material specification itself.

Solar Panels

Modern solar panels are expected to last 25 years or more, although their performance gradually declines over time. This does not mean that panels suddenly stop producing electricity after 25 years. Instead, solar panels experience gradual degradation, meaning their energy output slowly decreases as they age. As a result, a panel installed today could therefore continue generating electricity well beyond its nominal 25-year design period, although at a lower output than when it was new.

Solar Inverter

The inverter generally has a shorter expected lifespan than the solar panels. It is estimated that it may need replacing after approximately 12 years. This is an important consideration when calculating the long-term cost of a solar carport. If a system is expected to operate for 25 years or more, it would be unrealistic to assume that every component will necessarily remain unchanged throughout that period.

Battery Storage

If the solar carport includes battery storage, the battery may also need replacing during the system’s lifetime. Most solar batteries last approximately 10 to 15 years or around 3,000 to 6,000 charge cycles, depending on the battery chemistry, usage patterns, operating temperature and manufacturer.

EV Charger

If an EV charger is incorporated into a solar carport, it should also be considered when assessing the system’s long-term lifespan. A good-quality residential or commercial EV charger can typically be expected to operate for around 10 years or more, although the actual lifespan depends on the manufacturer, model, frequency of use, exposure to weather and how well the unit is maintained.

Conclusion

A solar carport is a hybrid structural and renewable energy technology that turns open-air parking bays into distributed power stations. If you’re weighing up whether a solar carport makes sense for your home or business, a proper survey and itemised quotation will give a far more accurate picture than any general guide can.