Rooftops
Assess generation against actual site demand, existing plant, structure, access and the electrical connection. Separate common services from tenant arrangements.
Retail & Shopping Centres
Solar for retail.
Roof, parking and glass.
Treat the roof, parking areas and selected building elements as distinct opportunities within one operating site.
Project decisions
Start with the building.
Parking & entrances
A PV canopy can generate electricity while shading customer parking. Compare usable bays, vehicle clearance, pedestrian routes, foundations, underground services and drainage. Assess integrated glass separately where overhead glazing is intended.
Storage & operation
Examine the actual load profile and tariff structure before proposing storage. Plan construction zones, delivery access and any outages around trading requirements.
Assessment scope
Make the next step useful.
Compare each site zone on usable area, load connection, construction constraints, operating disruption and the information needed to progress—not generation potential alone.
Information to prepare
- Site plan, roof and parking layouts, including known services.
- Electricity bills, interval data and available metering information.
- Trading hours, tenancy constraints and planned capital works.
Solar carpark canopies
Shade, generation and clear circulation.
Parking layout and structure
Coordinate column positions, spans, vehicle clearance, pedestrian routes, lighting and drainage. Check underground services and stage construction to retain usable access and parking.
Mounted PV or integrated glass?
Conventional mounted modules and BIPV building elements have different construction roles. Confirm weather protection, drainage and replacement access for the selected assembly. A PV canopy is not automatically BIPV.
Connection and future EV charging
Assess canopy and roof generation against the intended meter and site loads. EV charging is a separate load: connection capacity, cable routes, operating hours and controls need their own assessment. A canopy alone does not guarantee charging capacity.
Prioritise the site
Match each zone to its business case.
Roof / electricity opportunity
Test usable roof area against the load at the proposed connection point. Do not count tenant consumption unless the supply arrangement includes it.
Carpark / shade and generation
Assess the value of shaded parking alongside generation. Include foundations, structure, drainage, circulation, lost bays during works and maintenance access in the comparison. Shade is an additional function, not proof of a viable financial case.
Entrance or atrium / building-material decision
Consider BIPV glazing when entrance or roof-glazing works are planned. Compare the complete glass assembly, daylight requirements and access—not just its electrical output.