When you walk through an open parking lot on a scorching summer day, do you feel like you are walking on a giant frying pan? For a long time, these vast expanses of asphalt were regarded as necessary “dead spaces” for commercial development, not only creating heat island effects but also wasting valuable land resources. However, with the deep integration of photovoltaic technology, energy storage systems, and architectural design, this situation is being completely transformed.

By 2025, the global solar carport and canopy market had reached $739 million, and it is expected to grow to $1.47 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8%. This “green revolution in parking spaces” is reshaping urban spaces at an unimaginable pace. Below, we explore the three major trends in solar carport design for 2026.

1. Material Revolution: Farewell to the “Steel Forest”, Embracing a New Era of Wood and Aluminum

For a long time, steel has been the dominant material for photovoltaic carport structures. However, its high carbon intensity and poor corrosion resistance are increasingly evident drawbacks in today’s pursuit of ultimate environmental sustainability. The latest design trends are evolving toward more sustainable and aesthetically pleasing solutions.

1. Wooden Structures: 60% More Power Generation Than Steel
A recently launched wooden solar carport system, “Urbanroof” by Swiss startup Urbanpv, has shocked the industry. The system uses glued laminated timber and cross-laminated timber (CLT) instead of traditional steel, combined with an east-west tilted array design. As a result, the photovoltaic output power is actually 60% higher than that of conventional steel structures.

This is not only because wood naturally stores carbon, significantly reducing the embodied carbon of the structure, but also because large-span glued laminated timber trusses reduce the number of columns, improve vehicle accessibility, and, in terms of fire resistance, perform even better than steel, which tends to deform under high heat—wood forms a protective char layer during combustion.

2. Aluminum Structures: Designed for Stringent Regulations
In response to France’s Climate and Resilience Act, which mandates that large parking lots must be covered with photovoltaics, French startup Closura has introduced marine-grade aluminum solar carports. Aluminum is not only lightweight and corrosion-resistant but also comes with a 25-year warranty, making it particularly suitable for coastal areas or cold regions where de-icing salt is used.

2. Integration of Technology and Scenarios: From “Simple Power Generation” to “Versatile Intelligent Hub”

If materials form the skeleton, then the deep integration of technology and scenarios gives the solar carport its soul. Today’s solar carports are no longer simple “shading structures + PV panels”; they have evolved into energy hubs that integrate storage, charging, and intelligent management.

1. Y‑Shaped and Cantilever Designs: Enhancing the Driving Experience
Traditional T‑shaped or four‑column carports often make parking feel like an obstacle course. The new generation of Y‑shaped single‑column cantilever designs is becoming mainstream. These structures concentrate supports in the median strip between two rows of parking spaces, freeing up space around vehicle doors and eliminating the risk of “door dings.”

2. PV‑Storage‑Charging (PV‑EV) Integration
With global electric vehicle sales growing more than 160‑fold over the past decade, the combination of carport photovoltaics and charging piles has become the strongest commercial driver. Electricity generated from carport PV systems costs significantly less than that from public fast chargers, saving users up to 16 times in energy costs.

More importantly, integrated PV, storage, and charging systems are becoming standard. By incorporating energy storage batteries, the system not only enables peak shaving and valley filling to reduce electricity bills but also serves as a backup power source during grid outages, significantly improving energy security and economic benefits.

3. Use of Bifacial Modules
To maximize power generation from limited space, designers are increasingly adopting bifacial photovoltaic modules combined with high‑reflectivity coated ground surfaces or white structural underlayers. By increasing the “albedo,” the rear side of the modules can capture an additional up to 15% energy gain.

3. Market Drivers: Regulations, Land, and Economics

The surge in solar carports is not accidental; it is the result of multiple forces acting together.

1. Regulatory Push
Take France as an example: the APER law mandates that parking lots larger than 1,500 square meters must cover at least 50% of their area with photovoltaic canopies. Similar regulations are being considered in other European countries and regions, providing strong policy certainty for the market.

2. Land Use Efficiency
In an era of increasingly expensive land, multi‑use of space has become a core principle. Photovoltaic carports do not require additional land; they generate energy directly above existing parking areas, making them particularly suitable for urban renewal projects. According to estimates, surface parking lots in the United States alone represent a photovoltaic potential of approximately 1 TW.

3. Fast Installation Techniques
To minimize disruption to business operations, screw pile foundations and modular prefabrication are being widely adopted. Pre‑assembled components can be “plug‑and‑play” on site, reducing construction time by up to 35% and significantly lowering labor costs and parking lot downtime.