Solar Park Canopy in the Built Environment

James
Aug 28, 2020
6 min read

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Hospital - Solar Park Canopy

Introduction

Energy consumption and fossil fuel dependency are some of the many issues our planet and its inhabitants face. The SwitchOn documentary provides a great note stating, if we were to accurately calculate the total annual energy footprint for a single person, we need to factor virtually all of that person's activities. From the production and purchase of clothing to the heating and cooling of every building, that person steps inside. That person's average annual energy footprint is estimated to be twenty-million watt-hours of energy or 6.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions if running on fossil fuels (Lynch, 2012) (EPA 2018).

We can not expect or force change in human behavior, whether it be our energy consumption or dependency on fossil fuels. Consider a hot-humid tropical environment like Houston, Texas, with a highly dense urbanized populous that is heavily reliant on air-conditioning and personal transportation. The estimated 7 million people that live in the greater surrounding area might want clean energy, but we can't switch the lights off either. However, we can consider integrating renewable energy practices like solar park canopies into the existing infrastructure. A localized, sustainable solution that will not disrupt, but enhances human behavior by acting as a covered parking lot to protect our cars from weathering while generating power for our AC units.

Implementation Steps

Land Survey

A land survey allows us with the means to determine the size of our solar park canopy. It will give an idea of what engineering requirements we need along with any building or energy-related permits. A solar system installer will request this information before an assessment or quote. The information we will need to collect listed below:

Lot size and dimensions
Number of parking spaces
Engineering requirements
Structural design and dimensions
Building and energy permits

Solar System Assessment and Quote

One of the first questions a solar system installer will ask for is the size of the solar system. They will follow up by asking for property dimensions and CAD files from a structural design engineer. Without an engineer or assessment, we will not know our energy and financial savings. We will not have a clear-cut budget for investors to consider and review our proposal.

Community Relationships

Due to project costs, we might consider filing for government grants that pertain to green energy initiatives. Organizations like Green Mountain Energy also provide free solar panels depending on if you are a non-profit organization. Banking institutions are commonly involved, typically owning your green assets (solar panels) through a lien. An agreement will also need to be made by your local public energy utility provider. They will administer the transfer of the energy generated into the city grid - otherwise, off-grid options could also be available. Off-grid solutions, however, do not offer the ability to receive a solar credit from their public utility provider.

Potential Challenges

Initial Investment

The technology is proven but, the overall scope of the project would classify those that incorporate solar park canopies as early adopters. The biggest challenge is the total upfront costs to develop and integrate a solar park canopy to an existing parking lot, specifically, the costs associated with the set up of a solar system that will justify the initial investment. Mass adoption for these types of projects will occur if total project costs are lowered, providing a better rate of return of investment within eighteen to twenty-four months. Costs in solar have gone down considerably within the past few years, with better solar storage on the way and options for non-profits like Green Mountain Energy, these projects might make for a decent return on your initial investment.

Time-Intensive

The most taxing challenge is the engineering requirements and managing relationships between local stakeholders like the government and utility companies. For instance, The Department of Veteran Affairs has invested nearly five-hundred million dollars into solar-related projects (Gabel 2011). The solar system at Houston’s VA Medical Center has been presumably built and awaiting Center Point approval for three-years (VA 2018). Other challenges might include land surveys and communication between contractors. Including an agent or project administrator is recommended ensuring all stakeholders involved are on the same page, and the project stays on schedule. If seeking LEED credentials, finding an agent or project administrator is recommended but not required.

Research Intensive

One of the more research-intensive challenges is discovering your power savings in conjunction with your financial expenses. This information is determined by knowing specific information about an institution's utility bill from energy consumption to a building's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating. The figures in this proposal are generalized due to the format of this article. Referencing the Switch documentary, Diablo Valley College’s solar park canopy can power 200 people per year - a typical solar system can power roughly 0.4 people per year (Switch Project 2017). The results vary on a case-by-case basis.

Solar Analysis

The header row in the table above is sorted by the smallest to largest kW size of a solar system. The first and second row displays the estimated costs and property size. The potential carbon emission savings are seen in row three and are measured based on the system size. We measured the human impact by stating the average US home needs 4,750 watts of power daily. We divide one-thousand by the average electricity consumption then times this number by the chosen kilowatt system. A 100-kilowatt system is estimated to power roughly 21 homes.

The table above depicts the economic forecast for a one-hundred, kilowatt system (Infinite Energy 2018). However, the average cost excludes the development of the parking structure. A general engineer at the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center, states that the installment of a solar array on an existing carport structure will lead to a negative rate of return. He states this is one of the reasons most private entities do not choose this type of installation.

Findings suggest that the structural design of the parking structure should incorporate the solar panel dimensions for optimal performance. The solar array must point true south where the line of sight between the panels and Sun is not obstructed by buildings. Before leaping to a PV Carport Solar System, it is also suggested conducting further research on Solar Thermal Systems as it might be more expensive yet most efficient in comparison to Mono-Crystalline, Poly-Crystalline, and Thin-Film panels (Gabel 2011).

Proposal Overview

Some may argue carport solar is a great, localized solution for those seeking to incorporate renewable energy within the built environment. Specifically, parking lots receiving optimal sunlight hours, frequently utilized by building occupants. An investment for organizations seeking an opportunity to incorporate renewable energy and sustainable development practices promoting urban resiliency.

The proposed one-hundred-kilowatt system outlined in the table above generates enough power for twenty-one homes, eliminating one-hundred sixty-seven pounds of carbon emissions with a price tag between one-hundred to two-hundred thousand dollars. This carport solar system will receive a return on its investment within five years and will be built on top of seven-thousand square feet of underutilized space and attain a minimum annual savings of thirty-thousand dollars through the energy produced. The cost to develop the parking structure was not factored into the costs.

Conclusion

It is unrealistic to expect a change in human behavior. However, an investment in solar park canopies can be one small step to energy independence, encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles (EV). To entice and make the ownership of an EV a practical, daily urban driven car through the attachment of plug-in adapters from your solar carports. A way for us to retrieve the electricity we use for our air cooling and heating units. The path paved by a sustainable future.

References

Gabel Associates, Inc. Solar Feasibility Report Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center & Houston VA Regional Offices. June 2, 2011.

https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=455148&FileName=VA701-12-R-0114-A00004002.PDF.

2018 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “How Much Power Do I Need?” Honda Power Equipment, powerequipment.honda.com/generators/generator-how-much-power.

“Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator - Calculations and References.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 13 Mar. 2018, www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalenciescalculator-calculations-and-references.

Infinite Energy. “100kW Commercial Solar PV System.” Infinite Energy, www.infiniteenergy.com.au/commercial-solar-system-size-comparison/100kw.

Solar Electric Supply, INC. “Commercial Solar Carports.” Commercial Solar Carports - Wholesale Carport Mounted PV Systems, www.solarelectricsupply.com/commercial-solar-systems/solar-carport.

Solar Electric Supply, INC. “Wholesale Solar Panels, Solar Systems and Supplies.” Solar Electric Supply – Leading Wholesale Solar Panels & Solar Electric Systems Suppliers, www.solarelectricsupply.com/.

Green Management Program Solar Panel Projects. “Department of Veterans Affairs.” VA.gov, www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-15-03688-304.pdf+.

Lynch, Harry. “SWITCH: The Complete Documentary.” Vimeo, 23 Apr. 2018, vimeo.com/65772747.

Alghamdi, Abdulsalam S., et al. "Assessment of Large Scale Photovoltaic Power Generation from Carport Canopies." Energies (19961073), vol. 10, no. 5, May 2017, pp. 1-22. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3390/en10050686.