Service Specialism

Solar PV Carport Systems

Grid-connected solar PV carport systems with three-phase inverters, G99 application, optional battery and DNO export agreement.

Free Feasibility Study View Costs

100-2,000 kWp typical 75-1,500 spaces 5-8 years payback

At a glance

30/mo

UK search demand for "solar pv carport"

25 yr

Performance-warranted panels

100%

AIA first-year tax relief

G99

Grid-connected by default

Solar PV carport refers explicitly to the photovoltaic (electrical generation) component of a commercial solar carport project. While 'solar carport' refers to the system as a whole, 'solar PV carport' emphasises the underlying technology: solar photovoltaic modules generating direct current (DC) which is then inverted to alternating current (AC) for use on-site or export to grid.

Why it works

The Five Reasons Solar PV Carport Make Commercial Sense

Grid-connected by default

Every solar PV carport we install is grid-connected via a G99 application. This allows surplus generation to export to grid under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

SEG export tariffs

Current SEG tariffs range 4-15p/kWh exported, with Octopus, EDF and OVO leading. Carport export typically 10-25% of annual generation.

Behind-the-meter advantage

Self-consumed solar at site offsets ~47p/kWh grid retail (vs ~10p/kWh true generation cost). Behind-the-meter use is always more valuable than export.

Battery hybrid configurations

Many carports now pair with on-site battery storage (Tesla Powerpack, BYD, Pylontech Force) — particularly useful for sites with TOU/peak charges.

Combined with EV charging

Pairing solar PV with EV chargers behind the same meter is the highest-value commercial configuration.

System sizing

How Big Should Yours Be?

Solar PV carport sizing follows commercial solar carport sizing — typically 1.5 kWp per bay. Inverter selection: SolarEdge for shaded sites, SMA/Sungrow/Huawei for unshaded. Inverter-to-array ratio typically 0.85-0.95 for UK conditions (mild over-sizing of array vs inverter to optimise yield).

Site size	Bays	System (kWp)	Annual yield (kWh)	Capex (turnkey)
Small	50	75	~64,000	£95k-£115k
Medium	150	225	~191,000	£245k-£290k
Large	300	450	~382,000	£430k-£510k
Estate	750	1,125	~957,000	£1.0m-£1.2m

Delivery

Step-by-Step Process

Five phases from feasibility to switch-on.

DC design

String design (panels per string × strings per inverter), shading analysis, mismatch analysis.

Inverter selection

Choose between string, optimiser-string, microinverter, and central depending on site profile.

DNO G99 application

Full grid connection application. Larger projects (>500 kWp) may go via G100 (export-limited) where DNO capacity is constrained.

Commissioning

DC string testing (Vmpp, Voc, Isc), AC quality testing, G99 protection relay testing, MCS certification.

Monitoring portal

Per-string yield, alarm, fault and revenue data via monitoring portal.

Finance

Three Routes to Pay For Your Solar PV Carport

Solar PV is the energy-generation half of the carport project — typically £450-£550 of every £950-£1,300/kWp turnkey cost. The other ~£500/kWp is the carport structure plus electrical/groundworks.

See grants & funding routes

Common questions

Solar PV Carport FAQs

What's the difference between solar carport and solar PV carport?

Largely synonymous in conversation — 'solar PV carport' emphasises the photovoltaic technology. We use the terms interchangeably. The carport structure and PV array are inseparable in delivery.

What inverters do you install on solar PV carports?

Default: SMA Sunny Tripower for unshaded sites; SolarEdge SE100K with P-Series optimisers for partially-shaded sites; Sungrow SG110CX for cost-sensitive large installs; Huawei SUN2000-100KTL for sites where Huawei is procurement-approved. All Tier-1, 10-year warranty extendable to 25.

Does a solar PV carport need a battery?

Not necessarily — most sites self-consume 70-85% of generation without storage. Batteries become economically attractive where (a) you have time-of-use tariffs with significant peak/off-peak differential, (b) you need backup power resilience, or (c) you want to maximise EV charging at off-peak rates.

Can a solar PV carport be expanded later?

Yes. We design every PV carport with spare DC cable runs and pre-sized AC infrastructure to allow a 25-50% expansion later. Common scenarios: starting with a 200 kWp pilot, expanding to 400 kWp once management has 12 months of operational data.

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