The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) estimates that 13% of all residential homes will have solar installed in some capacity by 2030. One such application that’s gaining traction is the solar carport.

If you’re looking for ways to go green and reduce the amount of fossil fuel sources that you use, a solar carport may be an excellent choice for you.

Solar Carports vs. Non-Solar Carports
Building a garage can be a costly venture. If you’re just looking for a way to keep your car cool and protected from the elements, a carport can be an affordable yet effective option. They don’t provide as much security as a garage, but if security isn’t a concern, a carport may be the perfect choice for you.

A non-solar carport will provide shelter for your car and is built out of typical building materials such as concrete, bricks or wood. A solar carport, however, is built out of solar panels and can provide energy to your home in addition to providing shelter for your car.

How Much Does A Solar Carport Cost?
In the U.S., a standard solar carport system might cost between $3.45 and $4.00 per watt, with these expenses going toward the panels themselves, the carport structure, labor, wiring, and other components. For an average-sized, 5kW system, Understand Solar breaks down the cost for the following:

Solar panels for a 5kW system: $12,000 to $18,000+

Solar carport structure: $2,500

Additional costs for labor, wiring, and interconnection may apply.

While these are rough averages, there are several different factors that might influence the total cost of a solar panel carport. While solar carports in some areas may be on par or more expensive than rooftop solar, they can be used for homes and commercial spaces that have:

Excessive shading

Chimneys, vents, and gables

Limited rooftop space

Incorrect roof orientation

The Benefits Of Solar

How Solar Carports Work
Solar carports work by harnessing power from the sun and turning it into energy for your home. The roof of the carport is made out of solar panels, which generate electricity. They can generate either all or part of the energy that your home needs to run, depending on how many solar panels you use to build it. This can be a great option for not only reducing your electricity bill, but also for making a positive impact on the environment.

Pros of a Solar Carport

Residential and commercial solar panel carports provide a host of advantages over rooftop and ground-mounted PV systems.

Reduced Energy Bills
Solar carports are a great option for reducing or even eliminating your energy bill. Carports can provide enough square footage in solar paneling to create a substantial amount of energy for your home.

Protects Your Car from the Elements
Aside from the financial and environmental benefits, there’s one very simple reason you should install a solar carport: it will protect your car from weather damage. If you live in snowy or rainy areas, a carport can be particularly useful against inclement weather.

Easy Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
If you have an electric vehicle, you can make it even greener by using solar panels to charge it. You’ll be using no fossil fuels to run your vehicle, which is excellent for the environment. It’s easy to hook up an EV charger to the panels, as your source of electricity is mere feet above your car.

No Risk of Rooftop Damage
If you have an older roof that will need to be replaced in the next few years, installing solar panels on top may be a bad idea—to uninstall and reinstall the solar panels is a costly process. Even if your roof is newer, solar panels increase the risk of damage to the shingles. Damage to the roof in the area surrounding solar panels is often not covered by home warranties or home insurance. Therefore, using a solar carport instead of rooftop solar panels can be a safer option financially.

If you want to know more about the installation of the carport, pls find at the customized solar carport system.