The Watt Studio

Solar photovoltaic (PV) car canopies (or carparks) are one form of building-integrated PV (BIPV) systems. BIPV systems combine the effect of producing green power with useful system functionalities, by merging a renewable energy system with existing facilities. That way, existing facilities gain both a clean power source and an additional functional structure (e.g. for shading). Other examples of BIPV systems include retrofitting a building’s facade with solar panels, and installing solar panels on building rooftops. BIPV systems also offer a splendid aesthetics to the aerial view of the facilities they are integrated with.

PV car canopies are excellent venues for E-Cars parked underneath them to directly recharge during daytime. The PV canopies can also be equipped with batteries in order to provide park lighting during nighttime, although battery-fitted carpark systems are rare and most installers prefer to connect their PV canopies directly to the facility’s electricity grid.