Commercial solar carports in the UK — costs, design and payback
Solar carports turn an underused car park into a generator, an EV-charging hub and a piece of visible ESG kit. Here's what they cost, how they compare to rooftop, and where they earn their keep in the UK.
Short answer
A UK commercial solar carport typically costs £1,000–£1,700 per kWp installed and pays back in 6–9 years when paired with EV charging or a daytime load. Best fit: 40+ bays, retail/office/logistics, and any site with a poor or aging roof.
Formats and rough costs
Single-bay carport
~3–4 kWp per bay, ~£1,300–£1,700/kWp installed. Neat retrofit for staff and visitor parking.
Cantilever run (10–30 bays)
30–120 kWp arrays, £1,100–£1,400/kWp. Best value per kWp — one foundation line, one cable run.
Double-sided (T-canopy)
60–500 kWp+. Common on supermarkets, retail parks and offices with 40+ bays. £1,000–£1,300/kWp.
Integrated EV charging
Add 7–22 kW AC or 50 kW+ DC chargers under the canopy. Solar carries the daytime baseload; grid tops up peaks.
When a carport beats rooftop
- Roof is over 20 years old or asbestos-clad — reroof cost sinks rooftop economics.
- You need to add substantial EV charging anyway — the DNO application, cabling and metering are shared.
- Landlord restrictions or listed-building status on the main building.
- You want visible sustainability credentials for customers, tenants or planning committees.
Planning and DNO
Solar carports need full planning permission — no permitted development route because they're standalone structures. Allow 8–12 weeks. On the grid side, arrays above 30 kW need a DNO connection application (G99). Most sites get consent inside 65 working days.
FAQ
How much does a solar carport cost in the UK?
Budget £1,000–£1,700 per installed kWp depending on scale. A 20-bay double-sided canopy at ~80 kWp typically lands between £90,000 and £110,000 including EV-ready cabling.
Do solar carports need planning permission?
Yes — solar carports are new structures, so they fall outside the rooftop permitted development route and require a full planning application. Most consent within 8–12 weeks; sites in retail/industrial zones are usually straightforward.
Is a solar carport worth it vs rooftop solar?
Rooftop is cheaper per kWp when the roof is sound. Carports win when the roof is unsuitable (age, shading, north-facing), when you need EV charging infrastructure anyway, or when you want visible ESG signalling for staff and customers.
What's the payback on a commercial solar carport?
6–9 years typical with self-consumption above 60%, extending to 10–12 years if most generation is exported. Payback improves sharply when the carport also powers on-site EV charging.
Can I claim capital allowances on a solar carport?
Yes. Solar carports qualify for the 50% first-year allowance for special rate expenditure until March 2026, and full expensing may apply where the structure is treated as plant. Confirm with your accountant.
Costed carport design in 48 hours
Send a site plan and bay count — we'll come back with layout options, generation modelling and a fixed-price quote.