One of the recent developments in the solar energy industry is the possibility of transforming the underutilized car parking lots into productive solar power plants. A solar powered parking lot canopy is an innovative structural change, which is most suitable for businesses and large institutions that are considering the options of renewable energy. According to SunFusion Solar, the rapid growth of the solar energy industry, due to the recent tax incentives that encourage use of fossil fuel alternatives, is the reason for this development.
The economic incentives have also led to the availability of investment capital and decrease in the cost of PV (photovoltaic) panels and installation systems, which has made solar powered parking lots an economical option for many businesses. This structural innovation is soon expected to turn the vast stretches of concrete parking lot canopies (PLC) into solar energy plants that also provide shade to the vehicles.
The solar powered PLCs are elevated structures that can be installed over parking areas, either alone or in combination with ground and rooftop ranges of photovoltaic panels. These PV panels can be used for generating electric power supply that can increase the available energy resources of the institution or business. In comparison to the ground or rooftop solar panels, PLCs can have a greater cost per installed watt. However, considering the life-expectancy of the rooftop or ground solar panel, a PLC is more economical in the long run.
A number of businesses today are setting up parking lot canopies, but there are two major solar power generators in the nation that are currently in the news. One is the 2.7 megawatt solar power generation facility at the William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, which is estimated to save around $3.3 million in energy costs. The other is the 1.56 megawatt canopy at the Cincinnati Zoo, the largest urban PLC accessible by public, which can shelter around 1000 parking places.
Very soon, the practice of using parking lots for solar power generation would become commonplace. But PLCs can be challenging to construct considering the various factors like height of the structure, ground conditions etc which play an important role in determining its strength and durability. Which is why, care should be taken when hiring a solar energy consultant as the intricacies of creating a PLC can be efficiently handled only by an expert in the field.
According to SunFusion Solar, the developing trend of PLCs has also sparked an interest in many individuals to use solar energy for generating electricity to their homes and offices. With the rise in demand, the amount of solar energy generated is estimated to increase from 10MW a year in 2010 to 15-20 MW a year by 2011.
SunFusion Solar
SunFusion Solar is a licensed company that specializes in designing and installing photovoltaic panels for homes, offices, farms and Vineyards. The company aims at providing the best quality solar energy products and services at affordable prices. With its aim of achieving 100% customer satisfaction, SunFusion Solar provides committed service when it comes to bringing solar power to your house.
For more information, please visit SunFusion Solar.
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