Photovoltaic Parking Canopies
How do photovoltaic canopies work?
Photovoltaic canopies are structures equipped with solar panels, installed in parking or storage areas, to protect light vehicles, heavy trucks, or goods while generating electricity. They allow large artificial surfaces to be repurposed into renewable energy production sources.
Our technical expertise on photovoltaic canopies
With nearly 100 solar canopy projects completed across France, we have acquired solid expertise in this technology. We offer tailor-made solutions perfectly adapted to your needs and the specific constraints of your site and the items to be protected: cars, heavy trucks, or other goods!
Thanks to our specialized teams and in-house design office, we have developed various technologies for an optimal offer. We can thus propose the most suitable structure for your site: single-pole canopies (linked or not), double-pole canopies, or shelters for your vehicles and goods.
From the design phase, we place co-activity at the heart of the project, ensuring that your operations continue smoothly during the construction phase and throughout the operation of the solar plant. We ensure that your site is enhanced by this local source of green energy production.
Moreover, we pay particular attention to the landscape integration of the canopies and the comfort of your users and/or customers.
Finally, we support your decarbonization efforts by preparing sites to comply with the Mobility Orientation Law (LOM) through the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
What are the benefits of solar parking canopies?
Installing photovoltaic canopies allows for multiple enhancements to your site.
Indeed, you significantly improve the comfort of your users and/or customers by providing additional services in your parking lot, such as protection against weather conditions (extreme heat or heavy rain), nighttime lighting for better site security, and rainwater management through the installation of gutters.
Thanks to the canopies, your vehicles and/or stored products are less exposed to risks, which may allow you to negotiate a reduction in your insurance costs.You can also anticipate the development of electric mobility by installing charging stations directly powered by green energy and protected by solar panels.
You comply with the Renewable Energy Production Acceleration Law of March 2023, which requires existing parking lots over 1,500 m² and new parking lots over 500 m² to install photovoltaic canopies on 50% of their surface area.
By producing decarbonized energy on your site, you contribute to national renewable energy development goals and greenhouse gas reduction. You thus become an active participant in the energy transition, a commitment you can highlight both in your CSR policy and to your customers and users.
Your site gains value from a real estate perspective and in terms of customer experience.
They trust us
We consulted several companies specializing in photovoltaics to better understand the economic models, with the goal of integrating parking canopy installation into the CHU’s establishment project. This operation allows us to rethink parking organization in terms of quality, creating additional spaces, developing alternatives to cars, and amplifying carpooling, aiming to reduce vehicle flow at the CHU. A call for tenders was launched in early 2017, and Urbasolar was selected due to the relevance and professionalism of its offer, as well as a more appealing aesthetic proposal with a metal and wood solution.
Marie-Laure PIQUÉ & Christophe CHAUSSENDE
Engineer - Director of Procurement/Logistics - Material Resources Division - CHU de Nîmes
References
Capacity:
36 MWp
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris has chosen to equip its visitor parking lot with photovoltaic canopies, covering 11,200 spaces, making it one of the largest plants of its kind in Europe.
Annual production of 36 GWh, equivalent to the consumption of 17,400 people.
Capacity:
1 MWp
NTN Europe
The NTN Europe industrial group has equipped its parking lot with photovoltaic shading systems to produce low-carbon energy locally and provide greater comfort for customers and employees.
Annual production 1.1 MWh, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 500 people
Capacity:
9 MWp
STVA
A 36-hectare logistics platform, the installation of solar-powered shading systems protects the 15,000 vehicles stored there.
Annual production 13 GWh, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 6,000 people
Parking canopy at the MCT logistics platform in Hambach on video (1min33)
Our other
solutions
As a true expert in photovoltaic technology, we are able to provide the solution that matches your site and your expectations.
Across the territory, our teams support you in carrying out your solar projects.
FAQ
Qui peut s’engager dans un projet agrivoltaïque ?
Tous les propriétaires et exploitants agricoles. Les agriculteurs et exploitants de terres cultivées, les éleveurs disposant de surfaces de pâturage, enfin les producteurs viticoles, maraîchers et arboriculteurs dont les parcelles et/ou les cultures sont adaptées à la réalisation d’un projet solaire.
Quels terrains sont éligibles à l'agrivoltaïsme ?
Un projet agrivoltaïque doit s’adapter à l’activité agricole. Plusieurs prérequis sont donc indispensables parmi lesquels nous pouvons citer le maintien obligatoire d’une activité agricole, des cultures ou élevages compatibles avec l’installation, une réversibilité de de cette dernière et enfin une co-construction du projet avec l’agriculteur.
Quels types d’agriculture peuvent cohabiter avec le photovoltaïque ?
La technologie photovoltaïque peut cohabiter avec plusieurs formes d’agriculture, à condition que le projet soit pensé d’abord pour l’activité agricole. On peut ainsi retrouver les activités d’élevage et pâturage ovin et bovin, les grandes cultures (fourrage ou céréales), le maraichage (salades, courgette, choux, fraises, framboises, PAPAM, …) et enfin, l’arboriculture et la viticulture.
Existe-il des aides pour les projets agrivoltaïques ?
Il n’existe pas d’aides directes, en revanche dans le cas d’un projet agrivoltaïque, les aides de la Politique Agricole Commune (PAC) sont maintenues si l’activité agricole est réelle.
Est-ce que le projet agrivoltaïque s'adapte à mes pratiques agricoles ?
La clé du succès d’un projet agrivoltaïque réside généralement dans une collaboration étroite entre les agriculteurs et les développeurs énergétiques, afin de concilier la production agricole et la génération d’énergie renouvelable. Le projet solaire doit répondre aux contraintes, besoins et pratiques de l’agriculteur et non l’inverse.