Do you know what a "solar carport" is?

First of all, the carport is a simple garage with only columns and roof. Generally speaking, it is characterized by no walls or shutters. The solar carport is a garage with solar panels installed on the roof of the carport. Solar panels are usually installed on the roof of houses, but in fact they can also be installed in carports to generate solar energy.

The three main types of solar carports

Carport with integrated solar power

Carport has a "solar integrated" carport with solar panels installed in its design. The obvious difference from a typical carport is its appearance. Generally, carports have curved R-shaped roofs, but solar carports are designed with integrated solar power generation, because they were originally designed on the premise of installing solar panels, so compared to general carports, its roof flat design feels full. Another feature of the integrated solar power carport is that it is designed to install solar panels without wasting space on the roof.

Carport equipped with solar power generation

There is also a type in which solar panels and carports are separated. The difference from a carport with integrated solar power generation is that it can be built as a carport without installing solar panels. One of the advantages is that products can be selected according to the installation environment and customer preferences, because there are many types of products. The angle can be adjusted by changing the height of the gantry, but it should be noted that increasing the height will increase the weight and cost. There are also some carports, such as products using translucent materials and polycarbonate, which do not presuppose the installation of solar power. So it may not be suitable for installing solar energy on the carport.

Customized

There are customized types of solar carports as well as integrated and vehicle-mounted solar power generation types. As the name suggests, the customized model will specifically design a unique carport according to the site where it needs to be installed, and install solar panels on it. The advantage of this type is that a solar carport that fits perfectly with the site can be installed. However, the disadvantage is that the cost is slightly higher.

First, use space effectively

In addition to protecting the car, the carport can also be used as an effective space for use. Not only can it play a role in shading and protect the car from snow, it can also be used as a family leisure space, for example, it can be used as a place for children to play or barbecue when the car is not in use.

If you want to set up a parking space in your home, building a carport is a good choice, but in addition, you can also use the space more efficiently by installing solar panels above the carport. Because the upper part of the carport is a blind spot. Even installing solar panels here will not affect the usability of the carport, but installing solar energy can convert the falling sunlight into electricity.

Another advantage is that solar panels have been installed on the roofs of houses, and solar carports are installed to increase power generation. Since the installation freedom of the solar carport is higher than that of the house roof, a higher power generation effect can be achieved by adjusting the orientation and inclination angle.

Second, reduce electricity bills

Since the electricity generated during the day can be used at home, electricity bills can be reduced. If solar power generation with a power generation capacity of 5.33 kW is introduced, electricity consumption by 48,500 yen can be reduced within a year.

The "Pawa" brand solar carport PPA developed by afterFIT can be installed with "covered solar power generation" in large parking lots such as factories and shops, using personal electricity to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions. The client company can also install it without the initial burden.

Keiyo D2 introduces solar carport

Due to the global decarbonization trend and the revision of TSE corporate governance guidelines, companies are accelerating the introduction of renewable energy as part of the response to climate change. Keiyo has been committed to the introduction of energy-saving equipment such as LED lighting to the store, and "response to environmental issues" as one of the important issues of the SDGs initiative.

The solar carport to be installed this time was originally developed by afterFIT, which is a solar carport without front support. Since there is no front pillar, it does not interfere with parking, nor does it affect the opening and closing of the door, which takes into account the comfort of shoppers. afterFIT handles everything from carport design to civil engineering work and internal parts procurement. With a track record of building more than 200 MW solar power plants, afterFIT has the advantage of being able to use its expertise in material procurement, internal design and civil engineering technology to reduce overall costs. For this reason, not only can it be considered as a decarbonization solution, but also the cost of the store and customer convenience.

Since last year, afterFIT has been carrying out electricity retail business under the product name "White Bear Power". It not only develops power plants, but also provides consistent support for maintenance after installation with its comprehensive strength from maintenance operations to retail power business.