Solar carport FAQ: answers to the questions that matter

A free-standing structure built over a car park, yard or public space, whose roof is made of solar modules. It generates electricity on land that is already sealed and shelters vehicles and people. See: Solar carports for car parks

Yes, technically. Both describe an open shelter whose roof generates electricity. French regulation calls it an “ombrière”; “carport” is more common for homes, “canopy” for large car parks. See: Solar carports for car parks

For the same area, output depends mostly on orientation, tilt and shading. The car park often offers the largest available area, without using new land or depending on an existing roof. See: Carport, rooftop or ground-mount

It depends on the covered area, installed capacity, orientation and local sunshine. The SUUN simulator gives a first order of magnitude; a site study refines it. See: the simulator

Depending on aisle coverage, 3 to 5 kWp per space is common. SUUN’s Bischwiller study gives 478 kWp for 100 spaces, about 4.8 kWp per space. See: Solar carports for car parks

A roof of panels lets some water through between modules. Suun Light’s 100% watertight option provides full shelter for vehicles and people. See: Solar carports, rainwater and car park greening

Outdoor car parks above 1,500 m², which must be shaded over at least half their area by structures generating renewable energy. Default deadlines are 1 July 2026 above 10,000 m² and 1 July 2028 between 1,500 and 10,000 m². See: France’s APER law

No. Article 40 targets outdoor car parks above 1,500 m². Other rules may apply to new or refurbished car parks. See: France’s APER law

Yes: the area taken into account includes bays and lanes. Half of that area must be covered; how it splits between bays and lanes is decided in the layout study. See: France’s APER law

The authorities can impose a fine of up to €20,000 a year for a car park of 1,500 to 10,000 m² and up to €40,000 a year above that, renewable until the situation is regularised. Exemptions and extensions exist under conditions. See: France’s APER law

Under conditions, since the November 2025 simplification law in France, which allows solar canopies and tree shade to be combined. Check the exact rules at project time. See: Solar carports, rainwater and car park greening

Since 1 December 2024, a prior declaration is in principle enough up to 3 MWp outside protected areas; above that, or in a protected area, a building permit is required. Each project must be checked with the local planning office. See: Solar carports in France

Typically one month for a prior declaration and two to three months for a building permit, longer in protected areas. See: Solar carports in France

No. The duty to add solar does not replace planning consent: the project must still be declared or permitted. See: Solar carports in France

It is consulted depending on the site, especially where the public is received. In practice, early discussion avoids redesigns. See: Solar carports and fire safety

It depends mostly on span, climate loads, ground and support count. A serious estimate starts from the car park plan and a first geotechnical assumption; the SUUN simulator gives a first order of magnitude. See: Solar carport cost

On an existing car park, structure and foundations with their civil works account for a large share of the investment. That is where long spans help. See: Solar carport cost

Per kilo, yes. But far less is used, with no corrosion protection and fewer supports. The fair comparison is at installed-carport level. See: UHPFRC

Yes. A producer can finance, build and operate the canopy in exchange for a right to occupy the car park. The owner should watch compliance and end-of-contract terms. See: Third-party financing for solar carports

In principle yes; the contract with the investor must clearly set out timing and compliance commitments. See: Third-party financing for solar carports

It depends on the contract: dismantling and reinstatement, extension or sale. Negotiate it from the start; a structure designed to be dismantled widens the options. See: Relocatable solar carports

The producer, per the grid operator’s technical and financial offer, plus the regional share where applicable. See: Connecting a solar carport to the grid

The SUUN simulator works out the APER obligation, installable capacity, output and savings in two minutes, and compares four ways to finance: cash, bank loan, leasing and third-party investment. See: the simulator

For cars, the clear height is usually around 2.5 m under the structure. It increases for vans, motorhomes or HGVs and must allow for emergency access. It is set project by project. See: Solar carport structure

Conventional carports usually place a line of columns every few bays. The Suun Light structure spans 30 m between two supports in the design study; the exact layout follows each site’s study. See: Solar carport structure

Yes. The geotechnical survey sets the foundation type and size, and therefore cost and schedule. Start it at design stage. See: Solar carport foundations

The asphalt is cut locally at each support, then reinstated after pouring. The rest of the car park stays in place. See: Solar carport foundations

A carport designed for the site’s snow load does not need clearing for stability; operators may do it for output or user safety. See: Snow and wind

The module stays the same; its checks and, if needed, reinforcements change with the site’s loads. The Nordic and seaside options adapt Suun Light to heavy snow and salty environments. See: Snow and wind

A steel structure may need protection touch-ups, especially by the sea. UHPFRC has no coating to maintain. See: Solar carport lifespan, maintenance and dismantling

UHPFRC is used for bridges designed for several decades. SUUN pillars are designed in that spirit, with a demountable structure if the site changes. See: UHPFRC

Allow several months to over a year from feasibility to commissioning, depending on permits and grid connection. The works themselves take weeks; prefabrication aims to shorten them further. See: Solar carports for car parks

Yes, by phasing the works zone by zone. The fewer the supports and the more pre-assembled the parts, the smaller the area that has to close. See: Solar carports for car parks

Yes, the structure can be built first; generation starts only after commissioning. See: Connecting a solar carport to the grid

Any structure can be taken down, but only those designed for it can be reinstalled elsewhere without being destroyed. The Suun Light superstructure is designed to be folded and redeployed, subject to a study of the new site; foundations remain site-specific. See: Relocatable solar carports

Panels can be replaced on a sound structure, or everything dismantled and recycled or reused. See: Solar carport lifespan, maintenance and dismantling

It depends on the site. A site with high daytime demand, weekdays and weekends, will self-consume most of the output. See: Self-consumption on car parks

Not always. It pays off when the midday surplus is large or when fast charging creates peaks. See: Self-consumption on car parks

Yes, if routes and spare ducts were planned. That costs far less than pulling cables under existing asphalt. See: Solar carports and EV charging

Rarely on its own, and not at night. It covers part of the demand; the grid and, if needed, a battery do the rest. See: Solar carports and EV charging

They add electrical equipment to address: location, protection and cut-offs must be planned from the design stage. See: Solar carports and fire safety

SUUN designs and industrialises Suun Light, a long-span solar carport: 30 m between two supports in the design study, V-shaped UHPFRC pillars and a factory pre-assembled superstructure. Four first projects are designed with Groupe FEHR in France and Germany (997 kWp), with deployments planned in 2027. See: the projects

SUUN’s proprietary structural system: a pre-assembled truss superstructure, transported folded, unfolded and then locked on site. The prototype is in preparation; two patent applications were filed with INPI (France) in October 2026. See: ARKLOCK technology

As a rough estimate, a conventional steel carport has about one column and foundation per 120 m² covered, against about one support per 500 m² with SUUN’s 30 m span. The actual number depends on the parking layout. See: the simulator

One product, four options: Suun Light Nordic for heavy snow loads, column cladding, 100% watertight roofing and a seaside configuration for salty environments. See: the Suun Light system

No. SUUN designs canopies for commercial car parks, industrial, logistics and mobility sites. The smallest of its first four projects covers 20 parking spaces, in Achern. See: Solar carports for car parks

Yes. A first project is under way in Germany; Italy and Sweden are target markets, with local partners. See: Solar carports in Europe

Describe your site in the “Assess my site” form: location, area or number of spaces, vehicles. The engineering team checks compatibility with a long-span carport and replies within two working days. See: assess my site