Savvy business owners are realizing that solar canopies boost property value and delight customers. Often installed over parking lots or other existing open commercial spaces, they go beyond being power-generating assets.
Aesthetically pleasing, solar canopies and solar carport installations offer a positive experience for customers and employees of large retail centers, corporate offices, municipalities, airports, educational campuses, restaurants, cafes, and more. Providing comfortable, shaded spaces that protect vehicles and people from weather conditions, they also generate onsite electricity and hedge against volatile energy prices.
Common Solar Canopy Applications
Wondering what the most common applications for solar canopies are? Here are the top 15:
- Playground or splash pad solar shade structures
- Bar, winery, cafe, and restaurant outdoor canopies or awnings
- Car dealership solar carports over vehicle display lots and customer parking areas
- Concert and event venue solar pavilions
- Employee or VIP customer solar covered parking
- Public transportation hub and mass transit center solar canopies
- Solar covered canopies over golf course driving range tee-boxes
- Solar canopy shade structures for employee picnic areas
- Parks and recreation solar shade canopies for sporting facilities
- Solar walkways to healthcare facilities or businesses
- Solar canopies over electric vehicle charging stations
- Shaded outdoor classrooms and educational centers
- Solar carports for parking areas at C-stores and truck stops
- Residential or commercial poolside pergolas
- Backyard residential solar canopies
The Benefits of Solar Canopies
To see how these valuable applications provide tangible advantages, let’s examine 3 examples.
- What benefits does a solar walkway provide? Someone seeking physical therapy at a healthcare facility may be unsteady on their feet or walking with crutches. Trying to traverse a snowy or wet walkway may be harrowing or even dangerous. A solar canopy above the walkway would allow the patient to stay out of the weather on their way to the building. Additionally, lighting built into the solar awning would illuminate the walkway, increasing safety and visibility.
- Why turn a shade structure into a solar canopy? Many municipalities consider shade structures for their playgrounds, sporting facilities, or event venues. Homeowners may seek a backyard awning for outdoor enjoyment. Implementing a solar shade canopy instead of a simple shade structure is worth the extra cost for the dual-purpose gain. Canopies can provide protection from the elements while simultaneously generating clean, renewable energy. It becomes an electricity-generating asset, yielding significant financial benefits by lowering utility bills. While a typical shade structure only provides a cover, the solar canopy offers a clear return on investment.
- How does a solar carport benefit a business? In a competitive retail environment, customers may be drawn to locations that allow them to stay out of the rain, ice, and snow. Additionally, covering walking surfaces can decrease insurance risk as the chance of someone slipping and falling is minimized. Waterproof solar canopies help keep walkways clear, making it easier to maintain a safer space for everyone. Take it a step further and install covered electric vehicle charging stations on your property. Doing so can elevate your business above the competition by providing even more tangible benefits for customers and employees.
The Financial Benefits
In all applications, merging solar with canopies can convert open parking lots or general space to a solar generating asset. The solar system generates electricity that can directed benefit the host business facility.
The Illinois Shines solar renewable energy credit (SREC) incentive can also help provide a lucrative incentive. If located in Ameren or Comed territory, the solar canopy or carport installation can qualify for a smart inverter rebate (SIR).
Lastly, while it remains through end of 2027, the federal investment tax incentive (ITC) can help provide major tax benefit for both for-profit and non-profit entities. With demand charges taking a larger portion of electricity bills, coupling a solar canopy or carport with battery energy storage can help with peak demand management.
Tick Tock Energy is Your Solar Canopy Partner
Not sure if a solar canopy will fit in your existing location? Solar canopies are versatile, utilizing modular components so they can be configured appropriately for your business, home, or municipality.
Various height options are available as well, should RV, truck, or bus parking be desired. If you’re seeking help with planning, designing, and constructing your solar carport or canopy project, Tick Tock Energy provides start-to-finish services and lifetime operations, monitoring and maintenance support.
Interested in learning more about solar canopies, carports, or EV chargers? Reach out to Tick Tock Energy today. We make quality personal, providing unique solar installation solutions to meet specific customer goals.
Proud to be named 11-time Top Solar Contractor in the US, Tick Tock Energy offers commercial and industrial, farm/ag, and residential customers superior high-quality solar systems with long-lasting value. Tick Tock Energy’s mission is to educate, inspire, and motivate individuals and businesses to pursue reduce energy use and costs.
Discover how solar canopies can benefit your property by taking our free quiz or by calling (217) 994-9020 today.
