Solar Investor’s Guide: Solarise parking lots

Solarise parking and charging: Charging infrastructure für C&I and municipalities

The dominant era of petrol and diesel is coming to an end. Mobility is shifting to electric, bringing millions of private electric cars, company fleets and commercial vehicles that place new demands on the energy supply. In this changing landscape, filling stations, parking garages and parking lots offer significant opportunities for supplying EVs with solar power.

The key consideration in this overall picture is charging power, which varies by application, from eleven kilowatts to the megawatt range. To manage the costs of electricity supply and grid connection, large solar areas and high-capacity storage systems are increasingly the preferred approach.

In some countries, including France, solar carports are already mandatory for commercial and municipal parking areas, and today it is clear that solarising parking areas and parking garages is becoming standard practice. Solar technology and charging stations add measurable value and appeal to buildings and assets.

Across the sector, new business models are taking shape as bidirectional charging arrives for vehicles and properties. Vehicles can supply power to buildings when grid electricity is expensive, and charging infrastructure can capitalise on low electricity prices during periods of grid oversupply. Meanwhile, power storage acts as a buffer for energy and performance, helping operators avoid costly upgrades as demand grows. 

In this edition of our Solar Investors Guide, we explore the opportunities presented by the electrification of vehicles and mobility. Numerous examples from across Europe round out the trend reports, highlighting practical approaches and proven commercial benefits.

From the content:

• Solar carports add value to municipal finances

• Solar power and batteries reduce energy costs

• Storage systems for high-power charging

• Park-and-Ride – and charge

• Grid compliance sets the benchmark

• New products for charging infrastructure