Solar Carports Are Coming of Age in the UK - Here’s Why

Table of Contents

1. Why Carports?
2. How Big Is the UK Opportunity?
3. Why Businesses Should Act Now

Why Carports?

Car parks are already paved over – no wildlife displacement, no land-use debates. Solar canopies simply upgrade what’s already there, turning underutilised hardstanding into productive energy infrastructure.

Financially, they punch above their weight. The UK Government estimates suggest that an 80-space car park with on-site solar could save around £28,000 a year on energy.

And from a user experience standpoint? Carports offer shaded bays in summer, drier parking in winter, and a very public show of environmental commitment. For businesses and public-sector owners alike, it’s clean energy with curb appeal.

How Big Is the UK Opportunity?

The numbers speak for themselves. In 2025, Knight Frank identified approximately 29,000 car parks in the UK over 2,000 square metres — equivalent to about 80 or more bays. If just half of these were fitted with solar canopies, the UK could unlock up to 12 GW of additional solar capacity.

That would generate an estimated 12 TWh per year, or nearly 4% of the UK’s total electricity demand — enough to replace several large gas power plants, without disturbing a single field.

Why Businesses Should Act Now

In 2025, the question isn’t should we use car parks for solar – it’s how quickly can we scale them.

With policy direction locked in, planning barriers easing, and financial returns looking strong, solar carports are finally stepping out of the margins.

For many businesses and local authorities they offer a compelling mix of savings, sustainability, and public visibility — all from the space they already own. Solar carports are not just a smart upgrade – they’re a visible commitment to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.