EV Charging Integration
Solar Canopy EV Charging Integration
A solar canopy is the most cost-effective platform for EV charging infrastructure in the UK. The steel structure, cable routes, and electrical infrastructure already required for the PV system also carries the EV chargers — combining both in one build is significantly cheaper than doing them separately.
Accredited for UK commercial projects
Quick answer
An EV solar canopy with integrated charging costs £1,100–£1,500/kWp for solar + structure, plus £2,500–£8,000 per EV bay depending on charger type. A typical 100 kWp system with 20 × 22kW chargepoints costs £160,000–£280,000 installed. OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme grants reduce this by up to £14,000. Most installations pay back in 4–6 years from energy savings alone.
Why integrate EV charging with solar?
Solar canopy EV integration delivers four advantages that standalone EV charging infrastructure cannot match:
Zero-carbon charging
Power EV chargers directly from solar panels generated on-site. When solar output exceeds building demand, surplus feeds the chargers — genuinely green miles, not grid-sourced and labelled as renewable.
Revenue opportunity
Charge employees or customers via a commercial back-office (Monta, Pod Point, Mer, Allego, ChargePoint). Typical usage revenue: £0.08–£0.20 per kWh margin after energy cost. 22 kW charger at 30% utilisation generates £1,800–£4,500 per year.
Reduced grid dependency
Smart load management systems prioritise solar output to chargers, draw from battery storage as the second source, and pull from grid only when both are insufficient. Peak-period grid imports are reduced or eliminated.
Future-proof for 2030
The UK ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales takes effect in 2030. Fleet electrification programmes are accelerating now. Installing EV infrastructure under a solar canopy today avoids a more expensive, disruptive retrofit in three to five years.
Charger types and specifications
AC Slow (7 kW)
Staff / long-stay parking
£1,800–£3,500
Per chargepoint installed
Charge time
6–8 hours for 60 kWh EV
OZEV grant
£350/socket eligible
Notes
Standard for workplace and office parks. Charges overnight or during full working day. Mode 3 Type 2 connector.
AC Fast (22 kW)
Visitor / customer parking
£3,500–£7,000
Per chargepoint installed
Charge time
2–3 hours for 60 kWh EV
OZEV grant
£350/socket eligible
Notes
Most popular for retail, hospitality, and mixed-use. Charges in a typical shopping or dining visit. Mode 3 Type 2 connector.
DC Rapid (50–150 kW)
High-throughput / fleet
£20,000–£45,000
Per chargepoint installed
Charge time
20–40 minutes for 60 kWh EV
OZEV grant
Not currently eligible
Notes
For high-dwell sites with fleet requirements or as anchor chargers at destination locations. Often revenue-generating via usage fees. CCS2 and CHAdeMO.
OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme
The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) provides a grant of £350 per socket for up to 40 sockets per applicant, capped at £14,000. Eligible chargepoints must be dedicated to employee or fleet vehicle charging (not public or customer use). Retailers, hospitality, and public-access venues are not typically eligible for WCS — they should look at the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (EVIF) instead.
We handle the WCS pre-approval application as part of every eligible project. The grant is paid directly to the installer and passed through as a cost reduction on your invoice — you see the net cost from the start.
Battery storage integration
Adding lithium-ion battery storage to a solar canopy EV project allows surplus daytime solar to be stored and discharged to EV chargers during evening peaks, overnight fleet charging, or high-tariff grid periods. Systems from 50 kWh to 1+ MWh sit in an adjacent plant room or external weatherproof enclosure. Typical addition of a 100 kWh battery to a 250 kWp canopy project: £80,000–£120,000 installed.
Battery storage is particularly effective for sites with significant evening or overnight EV charging demand that doesn't align with daytime solar generation — last-mile delivery depots, NHS Trusts with night-shift staff, and hotels with electric shuttle fleets.
How to apply for the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme
The WCS grant application is handled by your OZEV-registered installer (that's us) on your behalf. Here's the process from site assessment to grant payment:
- 1
Site assessment
We assess your site for charger type, location, grid capacity, and WCS eligibility. The assessment is free and takes one visit.
- 2
OZEV pre-registration
We submit a WCS pre-registration application on your behalf via the OZEV portal. Pre-registration takes 5–10 working days and confirms your eligible socket count.
- 3
Install and invoice
Chargepoints are installed under the solar canopy (or separately if the canopy install is phased). We invoice at the gross cost.
- 4
Grant claim
We submit the WCS post-installation claim with photographic evidence. OZEV pays the grant (up to £14,000) directly to us within 20 working days, and we rebate it against your invoice. You see only the net cost.
- 5
Network registration
Chargepoints are registered on your chosen network (Monta, Pod Point, Mer, or similar). You control pricing and access rules.
For a deeper dive into charger specifications, OZEV eligibility rules, and how to size your system, see our guide to EV charging and solar canopy combinations.
Integrate EV charging into your solar canopy
We design the solar PV and EV charging infrastructure as a single integrated system. One contractor, one design, one installation programme. Free site assessment and quote within 7 working days.