Europe Solar Carport Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Design (T-frame structures and V-frame structures), By Capacity (Less than 500 kW, 500 kW - 1MW, and Above 1 MW), By Type (One-Row Vehicle Arrangement Carport, Two-Row Vehicle Arrangement Carport, and Two-Row Dual Slope Vehicle Arrangement Carport), By Application (Commercial and Others), and Country Forecast, 2024-2032

The Europe solar carport market size was valued at USD 207.05 million in 2023. The market is projected to grow from USD 221.67 million in 2024 to USD 483.64 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.24% during the forecast period.

Solar carport refers to a structure where the canopy of car parking spaces is covered using solar panels or modules to obtain solar energy. The need for renewable energy sources is growing, and this innovative technique could be beneficial in producing solar power. Solar carport installations in parking lots can also result in additional revenue sources for parking lot owners.

Commercial solar carport owners can also develop electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations, which can allow electric vehicle owners to charge their EVs at a nominal charge. Solar carport installations can support the rising demand for renewable energy.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption in global manufacturing and trade potential. All the countries globally have experienced an abrupt increase in the number of affected people since the start. It also negatively impacted the market growth.

Europe Solar Carport Market Trends

Emergence Of Technological Advancements to Enhance The Efficiency And Reliability Of the Product

Solar capacity advancements have created new opportunities for these carports. The adoption of bifacial solar panels, which are used to capture sunlight from both sides of the panel, is one such breakthrough. Solar panel carports can now be up to 30% more effective, increasing their affordability and sustainability. The use of smart capacity can help optimize the performance of solar panel carports. Smart capacity can monitor and control the energy usage of the carport, ensuring that energy is used efficiently and effectively. This capacity can also deliver real-time data on energy production and usage, allowing for more informed decision-making and better energy management. Energy storage systems can also help store energy derived using these carports. This stored energy can later be used as per user requirements.

Europe Solar Carport Market Growth Factors

Increasing Government Efforts to Support Demand for the Product

The European Union introduced REPowerEU plan in May 2022 to tackle global energy market disruption faced by the region. The plan is helping in boosting the green transition and encouraging massive investment in renewable energy. In addition, Green Deal Industrial Plan is also placed in order to enhance the region’s competitiveness and accelerate energy transition. The plan presents supportive environment to enhance the regions’s manufacturing capacity for the net-zero technologies and products essential to achieve ambitious climate targets.

Increasing Adoption of Electric Vehicles is Propelling the Growth of the Market

Electric vehicle markets are growing rapidly. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric car registrations in Europe increased by 20% year-on-year to 3.2 million in 2023. Germany recorded half a million new battery electric car registrations. Further, the market growth is supported by tax benefits and incentives provided by the government. In September 2023, U.K. introduced a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate to support the uptake of electric vehicles. The mandate states the strategy for the adoption of all new cars to be zero emission by 2035, which is anticipated to encourage investments in EV manufacturing as well as EV charging station installations. This aspect would also support the Europe solar carport market growth in the region.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Installation Costs and Limited Accessibility of Suitable Sites May Hinder the Market Growth

Deployment of solar carport allows utilization of area or space that might be wasted. It provides protection to cars as well as offers extra storage space. By means of placing solar panels on the roof of a carport further appreciates the purpose of the carport. A conventional carport accommodates the vehicle and is generally constructed using building materials such as concrete, bricks, or wood. A solar carport is created using solar panels and can provide energy to homes in addition to providing shelter for the car. The initial costs of installing a solar carport can be quite high; however, in the long run can offer saving on energy bills. Existing conventional carport, might not be able to support solar panels, which requires to be fixed in a certain manner to maximize the amount of power generation. The initial cost of installing this carport can range from anywhere between USD 18,000 to USD 25,000.

Europe Solar Carport Market Segmentation Analysis

By Design Analysis

T-frame Structures is the Dominating Segment Driven by Its Wide Applications

On the basis of design, the market is divided into V-frame structures and T-frame structures.

The T-frame structures segment leads the Europe solar carport market share owing to its wide applications in spaces such as multi-storey car parks and paid for parking for customers due to minimum ground footprint with heavy-duty construction and a framework that allows unhindered opening of car doors, resulting in its wide adoption.

Furthermore, the V-frame features lightweight and cost-effective steel frames that are adopted and positioned between standard 2.4m car park bays with a typical three-bay span. This results in the major installation of a V-frame structure carport across the residential sector.

By Capacity Analysis

Above 1 MW Segment Dominated Owing to Increasing High Capacity Solar Carports Installation at Commercial Buildings

Based on capacity, the market is segregated into less than 500 kW, 500 kW to 1 MW, and above 1 MW.

Among these, the above 1 MW segment held a dominant market share in 2023. Several countries across the globe are announcing subsidy programs for the commercial building & construction sector to generate renewable electricity and increase its energy mix in the overall energy generation. Moreover, the same segment is poised to be the fastest-growing segment in the commercial solar carport market during the forecast period. This is due to the growing installation of these carports across many commercial buildings for their internal electricity needs and to save corporate taxes. 

Subsequently, less than 500kw and 500kw to 1 MW segments are expected to grow during the forecast period due to their increasing use in the industrial and residential segments.

By Type Analysis

Two-Row Dual Slope Vehicle Arrangement Carport Segment Dominates Driven by Rising Adoption in Commercial Applications

By type, the market is classified into one-row vehicle arrangement carport, two-row vehicle arrangement carport, and two-row dual slope vehicle arrangement carport.

The two-row dual-slope vehicle arrangement carport segment dominates the market owing to growing adoption in commercial applications. It is best suited for commercial use as it is compact, accommodates multiple vehicles, and is one of the most widely used types of carport. For context, in March 2022, PowerPark installed their customized two-row PV carport with a capacity of 5.6kW, and the structure can accommodate two vehicles. Based on this factor, the segment is slated to support the solar carport market growth during the forecast period.

On the other hand, a one-row vehicle arrangement is a type of carport with only one row/car of parking spaces. With the growing adoption of passenger electric cars, the one-row vehicle arrangement structure will likely experience significant adoption.

By Application Analysis

Commercial Segment Holds The Dominant Share Fueled by Huge Parking Areas

Based on application, the market is divided into commercial and others.

The commercial segment holds the dominant share in the European market and is projected to grow in the coming years as well. The commercial sector, encompassing hospitality, retail, corporate offices, and others, consists of huge parking areas compared to residential infrastructures. Thus, the integration of solar carports for parking sheds in commercial areas has resulted in a higher market share than other segments. Moreover, the rising sustainability and adoption of clean energy in Europe have also contributed to the growth of the commercial segment in the European solar carport market.

The others share is also gaining a momentum in the Europe solar carport market due to the rising inclination and awareness towards clean energy in the residential and industrial sectors. The residents of the countries are preferring installing solar carports as a source for availing both parking sheds and generating solar energy.

COUNTRY INSIGHTS

The Europe solar carport market is divided into Germany, the U.K., France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and the rest of Europe.

The rising focus on clean energy solutions and increasing technological advancement is fueling the demand for the product in Europe. The strong targets of the European Union for boosting renewable energy are also fueling the adoption of these carports. For instance, the revised Renewable Energy Directive EU/2023/2413 raises the EU's binding renewable target for 2030 to a minimum of 42.5%, up from the previous 32% target, with the aspiration to reach 45%. It means almost doubling the existing share of renewable energy in the EU.

Among other things, the U.K. is one of the leading countries in Europe due to the increasing acceptance and use of solar carports. Another factor is the increasing number of installations in parking garages. In 2023, U.K. roofing specialist SIG Building Solutions is offering the solar carport solution in three different versions. The largest structure is designed to give maximum power for east-west facing double row car parking layouts. Solar car parks continue to grow in popularity across the U.K. as a means to provide on-site renewable energy growth both for electric vehicle (EV) charging and nearby buildings.

In recent years, there has been a transformative shift in the energy sector, spotlighting solar carports in shaping the future of clean energy. Beyond mere shelters, these carports represent an intelligent fusion of capacity and practicality, revolutionizing the energy landscape. In a groundbreaking move, Solarstone unveiled its state-of-the-art Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) factory, establishing itself as the biggest of its kind in Europe by production capacity. The factory can assemble 13,000 integrated solar panels per month.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Leading Players Focus on Building Enhanced Carports to Strengthen Their Position

To strengthen the market position, leading players such as FlexiSolar have built one of the U.K.’s largest commercial solar carports for Bently Motors’ manufacturing center in Crewe, Cheshire. The company has used its V-Frame Double Row Mono Pitch carport design. The carport system has an output of 2.7 MW and can supply 24% of Bently’s electrical energy needs, reducing CO2 emissions by 3,300 tons annually.

Schletter is also one of the leading players in the market. The company has a vast product portfolio, including ground mounting systems and roof systems.

LIST OF TOP EUROPE SOLAR CARPORT COMPANIES:

• SunPower Corporation (U.S.)


• Flexisolar (U.K.)


• Schletter (Germany)


• EvoEnergy (U.K.)


• Solisco (U.K.)


• Omnis Solar Power Co., Ltd. (U.S.)


• Solarstone (Estonia)


• Shawton Energy (U.K.)


• Giulio Barbier SRL (Italy)


• Empower Energy Ltd. (U.K.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• In September 2023, Solarstone, an Estonian producer of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar roofs, opened a 60 MW manufacturing facility in Viljandi, Estonia, to produce a broader range of design and performance specifications.


• In July 2023, Schletter announced that it will supply the largest PV plant in Austria. The photovoltaic plant, which is community-owned, will be the first PV plant in Austria to break the 100 MW threshold. For the installation, the Austrian project developer Sonnenbau GmbH relied on the FS UNO single-pile mounting system from the Schletter Group.


• In June 2023, Schletter announced that it was launching two major products at that year’s Intersolar Europe. One is a newly developed Agri-PV system, and the other is a solar carport. The company is also exploring new virtual worlds. “House of Schletter” is a metaverse where visitors to the exhibition stand can test out and experience the latest products.


• In June 2022, EvoEnergy partnered with the City of York Council for the unique projects and has been a critical partner in turning their vision into reality, managing the construction of the HyperHubs, and successfully integrating many different aspects of the projects where the Monks Cross HyperHub, next to one of York’s Park and Ride sites, is one of the largest EV charging hubs in Northern England. It features four 175kW ultra-rapid chargers, which can be upgraded to 350kW when more EVs can charge at this rate, four 50kW rapid chargers, and an adjacent area with thirty 7kW chargers for Park and Ride users.


• In September 2021, EvoEnergy developed multiple Y-shaped solar carports for Stourton Park and Ride, which focuses on introducing integrated renewable energy technology into the city and aims to improve Yorkshire’s local electric vehicle charging network and provide better connectivity while reducing carbon emissions in the city.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects such as prominent companies, product/application types, and leading applications of the product. Besides, it offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors above, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation