Sandeep Kang, Senior Product Manager at Energy Systems Catapult
Local authorities face a familiar paradox: land is at a premium, yet the imperative to deploy renewable capacity grows more urgent. Rooftop solar continues to be a mainstay of council‑led decarbonisation, but many towns and cities lack enough contiguous roof area or sites for ground‑mounted farms. Solar carports have emerged as a practical, high‑impact solution, transforming existing parking estates into low‑carbon generation hubs without requiring additional land allocation.
The growing case for car park photovoltaics
Solar PV in the UK has expanded rapidly in recent years: between January 2024 and January 2025, installed capacity rose by over 1.15 GW, taking the national total to almost 17.9 GW. In 2023 alone, solar generated roughly 27.2 TWh of electricity, equivalent to around 10% of Britain’s annual demand. Yet this impressive growth belies an even larger untapped resource, our 629,000‑plus public and private parking spaces. Research indicates that equipping just half a million suitable parking bays with canopies could yield an additional 1.57 GW of capacity and over 1,450 GWh of clean energy each year.
For local authorities, the appeal of solar carports extends beyond raw generation figures. Parked cars stay cooler under PV canopies, reducing urban heat island effects and vehicle air‑conditioning loads. Canopies can be designed to integrate electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, tackling two pillars of climate policy – clean electricity and transport decarbonisation – simultaneously. Moreover, because car parks sit adjacent to existing distribution networks, grid connections often require minimal reinforcement, keeping project development costs in check.
A council‑led pilot: from plan to canopy
A leading local authority recently demonstrated an innovative approach in exploring alternative solar deployments. Following the completion of its Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP), the authority was keen to advance the identified sustainability pathways despite facing the common urban challenge of limited suitable land for traditional solar farms.
The authority already possessed an impressive record in renewable energy, with an operational solar farm, a hydro scheme, and a heat network under development. Yet it recognised that meeting ambitious Net Zero targets required a different strategy.
To identify suitable locations for solar carports, the authority partnered with Energy Systems Catapult for a data-driven solution. Through the Net Zero Data product, a comprehensive dataset was developed. The dataset identified existing car parks potentially suitable for solar carport installation and estimated the potential energy generation capacity at each site. The data also assessed the electricity network capacity in the surrounding areas and reported on available headroom at nearby substations.
This approach enabled the authority to quickly evaluate and prioritise potential sites based on reliable, up-to-date information. The bespoke dataset was delivered within two months, a pace considerably faster than traditional consultancy methods.
Quantifying the national opportunity
Energy Systems Catapult’s Net Zero Data has mapped over 252,996 council-owned car parks across Britain comprising 201,760 sites in England, 13,541 in Wales and 31,888 in Scotland. Together, they represent up to 24 GW of deployable PV capacity, with estimated annual generation of 23 TWh (18.75 TWh / 1.23 TWh / 2.11 TWh respectively). Even installing canopies on just the top 5% of these sites would yield around 1.6 GW of capacity and 1.5 TWh per year, enough to power over 400,000 average UK homes. Expanding to 10% coverage boosts figures to almost 2.9 GW and 2.75 TWh annually.
To put these numbers in context, National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios forecasts UK electricity demand growing to between 533 TWh and 700 TWh by 2050. Even at the lower bound, fully utilising just 5% of council car park potential could contribute nearly 0.3% of future demand, an appreciable slice for a single asset class, achieved without eating into urban land budgets.
Building the business case
The financial and operational rationale for solar carports is compelling:
- Reduced energy costs: On‑site generation can be consumed behind the meter, lowering wholesale purchases for council buildings, leisure centres and street lighting.
- New revenue streams: Surplus exports can be sold into the wholesale market or via private‑wire arrangements, attracting third‑party investment and lowering capital outlay.
- EV charger integration: Bundling PV with charging infrastructure increases utilisation rates potentially reducing the cost of the electricity being supplied to the chargers by using onsite generation, generating greater margins on charging revenues, and strengthening a project’s overall return.
- Maintenance synergies: Co‑locating PV arrays with council maintenance depots can streamline O&M schedules and share security infrastructure.
Capital costs for canopy installation vary by site complexity, but innovative financing models such as lease‑purchase, green bonds or energy‑performance‑contract structures, can mitigate upfront expenditure. By demonstrating predictable, long‑term cash flows from energy savings and export revenues, councils can secure competitive borrowing rates or attract solar investors.
Overcoming challenges
Despite the clear upside, solar carports have not yet become ubiquitous. Key barriers include:
- Data gaps: Without granular intelligence on roof geometry, shading and local network headroom, councils may err on the side of caution or abandon studies prematurely.
- Grid interface complexity: Early engagement with Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) is essential to understand reinforcement requirements and avoid late‑stage surprises.
- Planning and heritage constraints: In conservation areas or listed sites, canopy design may need to be sensitively tailored to local character.
- Internal capacity: Many authorities lack in‑house technical expertise to scope, procure and manage bespoke solar canopy projects.
By partnering with bodies such as Energy Systems Catapult, councils can access turnkey data solutions that streamline each phase of delivery. This collaborative model reduces reliance on lengthy, high‑cost consultancy engagements and embeds best‑practice insights directly into local decisions.
Looking forward
As renewable deployment intensifies and urban demand for EV charging grows, solar carports stand at the nexus of energy and transport decarbonisation. By adopting a data‑driven framework councils can rapidly mobilise projects that deliver clean power and cost savings.
Net Zero Data crystallises this opportunity, offering councils the insights to prioritise high‑value sites and build robust business cases. With careful planning and innovative financing, the car park canopy can become a pillar of decarbonisation providing tangible benefits for residents and the climate.
Want to find out more? Head to the website: https://www.netzeromarket.org.uk/s/product/detail/01tTv00000APZw5IAH
This article appeared in the May 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.