Walking through a parking lot covered by solar panels feels like stepping into the future. On paper, it’s the perfect solution: you protect vehicles from the sun, generate clean energy, and make use of previously dead space. However, behind that minimalist steel and glass aesthetic lies a structural weakness that many prefer to ignore: an absolute lack of resistance to human error.
The problem with modern solar carports is that they have been designed as power generation structures, not as road infrastructure. In the quest to optimize costs and maximize solar collection area, the supports have become alarmingly thin.
The Fragility of “Clean” Design
In modern architecture, less is more. But in a parking lot—where tons of moving metal are operated by tired, distracted people with limited visibility—”less” can be an imminent disaster.
Most of these structures lack real perimeter protections. We see slender steel columns holding tons of panels and wiring over our heads, yet they lack the impact absorption capacity of a concrete bollard. A simple miscalculation while reversing, a side-swipe from a truck, or a driver losing control for a split second can compromise the integrity of an entire row of panels.
A Domino Effect of Glass and Silicon
Unlike a concrete roof or a traditional garage structure, a solar carport is a high-voltage system. An impact on a column doesn’t just risk physical collapse; it involves high-voltage DC cables that can be severed, causing short circuits and fire hazards in an area full of fuel tanks.
We are installing cutting-edge technology on supports that look like toothpicks compared to the vehicles they are meant to house. They look great—as long as no one touches them. But in the real world, vehicles hit things. It’s an inevitable statistic.
Conclusion: Aesthetics or Safety?
This isn’t about being against solar energy; it’s about demanding engineering that understands its environment. A solar carport should be, first and foremost, a robust structure capable of surviving the dynamics of a parking lot. Until we see reinforced steel guards or concrete bases protecting the supports, these technological marvels will remain a risky bet.
A parking lot is not an art gallery; it’s a maneuver zone. And it’s time for solar carport design to start treating it as such.
