June 16, 2025, 9:55 am | Read time: 8 minutes
Solar panels aren’t just for rooftops or balcony power plants—they can also be installed on carports. What is the concept behind a “solar carport”? Here’s what owners should know.
The roof of a carport also offers the possibility for a solar installation. Two experts explain to myHOMEBOOK what to consider with a solar carport: Stefan Hoffmann, an energy expert from the Consumer Center of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Harald Baumeister, founder and CEO of Sopago, a company that manufactures solar parking lot canopies.
Is every carport suitable for a PV system?
No, says Stefan Hoffmann from the Consumer Center. Shading from your own house or a neighbor’s can prevent effective use. Carports are also not designed to carry larger loads like PV modules. “Therefore, it is important to build a carport that is designed from the start for use as a PV carport,” emphasizes Harald Baumeister, but adds: “In the private sector, there is more flexibility with such carport PVs than with installations in public areas.” These include company parking lots.
What needs to be checked before installation?
Important factors include the ability to obtain permits, potential electricity yield, and the load-bearing capacity of the ground. “For a PV carport in public spaces, a building permit is always required,” emphasizes expert Baumeister. It’s worth contacting the local building authority early, as regulations vary between municipalities and states.
Additionally, you must request a grid check from the local network operator for feeding electricity into the grid. The electricity yield depends on possible shading from buildings and trees and can be calculated by us.
Also of interest: Solar thermal or photovoltaic – which is the better choice?
South-facing should be perfect, right?
Not necessarily, says Hoffmann. The west-east direction yields about 20 percent less output but has higher self-consumption. A gable roof with a 10 percent slope is very flexible; it can be oriented in all directions, and the yield is more even than with a south-facing orientation throughout the day.
Is the PV system its own roof for the carport?
There are PV systems that can be mounted on existing roofs, depending on the construction. However, it is very important to check the structural integrity (including the snow zone) for this. In Germany, there are different snow load zones, meaning that less snow typically falls in Freiburg than in the Alps, and this must be taken into account.
Retrofitting is always more complex than building a carport with a PV system from the start. Solar roof expert Baumeister says: “From planning, cabling, and connection to financing, there are many synergies here.”
Energy expert Hoffmann explains: Both are possible. “If the PV modules are to form the roof, they must be certified as such. Currently, very few modules in Germany meet this requirement.”
Is there a maximum weight for such a PV system?
The structural integrity sets the limit, explains consumer center consultant Hoffmann. A standard module weighs 20 to 25 kilograms. The weight also depends on the soil conditions and the foundation of the system. Additionally, in public areas, the maximum impact load from vehicles must be considered. This means that if a car hits the structure at a maximum speed of 10 kilometers per hour, it should not collapse.
Are the modules different from those on house roofs?
Not necessarily, say Baumeister and Hoffmann. “Unless the modules are supposed to form the roof,” explains the consumer center expert. Bifacial (double-sided) glass modules are suitable for carports and are partially transparent. “However, these are not suitable for house roofs,” explains PV expert Baumeister.
Are there ready-made solutions, like a carport with an integrated PV system?
Yes, they exist, and the concept is currently being expanded to private homeowners.
What should be considered during installation?
“Since this is a complex system that generates electricity, I would strongly advise against installation without expertise,” says Baumeister. It is legally required that a professional handle the installation. They will be reluctant to sign off on a system they did not install themselves.
Expert Baumeister points out: “The connection to the household network is made with its own meter via the inverter. A storage module can also be integrated, so that part of the energy can be stored, reducing reliance on the supplier when the PV system is not producing.”
How much electricity does a solar carport provide?
It depends on the quality of the modules and their orientation to the sun. There are solar carports that deliver an average of 3.5 to 4 kilowatts peak per parking space, or 250 watts peak per square meter. The requirement for 1 kilowatt of power is about 1 kilowatt. “The yield varies depending on the orientation,” he adds.
Can such a PV system be too large? Is there a risk of overheating?
Overheating is not dependent on size, emphasizes solar expert Baumeister. “Especially with PV carports, we also have the distance to the ground, which provides better cooling for the system.”
Energy expert Hoffmann also rules out overheating. “The modules and inverters must be matched to each other,” he says. “A PV system can be too large for economic reasons: for example, if a lot is fed in but little is consumed.”
Can the PV system be directly connected to the household grid?
It is not connected but “plugged in,” says Hoffmann. If it is a plug-in PV system, the device can be “connected” via an outlet. A larger PV system is connected by a professional electrician, as legally required. And they will be reluctant to sign off on a system they didn’t install themselves.
Expert Baumeister explains: “The connection to the household network is made with its own meter via the inverter. A storage module can also be integrated, so that a portion of the energy can be stored, allowing you to reduce reliance on the supplier when the PV system is not producing.”
How much electricity does a solar carport provide?
It depends on the quality of the modules and their orientation to the sun. There are solar carports that deliver an average of 3.5 to 4 kilowatts peak per parking space, or 250 watts peak per square meter. The requirement for 1 kilowatt of power is about 5 square meters of area, explains Hoffmann from the Consumer Center. “The yield varies depending on the orientation,” he adds.
Can such a PV system be too large? Is there a risk of overheating?
Overheating is not dependent on the size of the system. The cables and inverters must be sized for the system, emphasizes solar expert Baumeister. “Especially with PV carports, we also have the distance to the ground and therefore better cooling of the system.”
Expert Hoffmann also rules out overheating. “The modules and inverters must be matched to each other,” he says. “A PV system can be too large for economic reasons: for example, if a lot is fed in but little is consumed.”
Can the PV system be connected directly to the household grid?
It is not connected but “plugged in,” says Hoffmann. If it is a plug-in PV system, the device can be “connected” via an outlet. A larger PV system is permanently integrated into the house grid by a professional electrician.
Expert Baumeister explains: “The connection to the household network is made with its own meter via the inverter. A storage module can also be integrated, so that a portion of the self-generated solar power is still available for the household at night, reducing the need to rely on the utility when the PV system is not producing.”
How does this connection work?
The direct current generated in the PV system is converted into alternating current by the inverter and fed into the power grid through a meter in the house. The generated electricity is always used first where the consumer is nearby, such as in the building, at the charging station, or in the battery buffer. The remaining, unused electricity is fed into the local power grid. This is currently the most economical solution for PV system operators.
Do you need an inverter?
“Yes, an inverter is always needed,” says Baumeister, the solar expert. “Since the PV system generates direct current, it must be converted into alternating current for feeding into the house network. Additionally, this device controls and monitors the entire system.”
Can you charge an e-bike directly from a solar carport?
To charge e-bikes or electric cars, you need wall boxes. These are powered by the house connection. It is always the self-produced PV electricity that is used first, and only then is electricity drawn from the utility when the PV system is not producing.
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Are carport solar roofs more prone to damage than PV systems on house roofs?
Stefan Hoffmann is not concerned about damage. Expert Baumeister also dispels fears. “If the requirements are met, there is no need to worry. The carport, for example on a company premises, should not collapse if a car hits the supports at a maximum speed of 10 kilometers per hour. Impact loads, wind loads, and earthquake loads are also taken into account.”
Also of interest: Solar thermal or photovoltaic – which is the better choice?