System Sizes & Pricing
Solar Canopy Sizes — 50 kWp to 500 kWp+
From a 30-space office car park to a 300-space supermarket, canopy systems are sized to your parking geometry and electricity demand. Here is what each tier delivers, or run the numbers for your own car park.
What to verify before you appoint an installer
Small
50–100 kWp
30–60 spaces
£45k–£140k
Installed cost
- Annual generation
- 43,800–87,500 kWh
- Annual saving
- £9,400–£18,900
- Payback period
- 4.8–7.4 years
- CO₂ prevented
- 9–17 t/year
Best for
Office car parks, small retail, independent schools, care homes
Typical structure: Mono-pitch typical
Medium
100–250 kWp
60–150 spaces
£90k–£350k
Installed cost
- Annual generation
- 87,500–218,800 kWh
- Annual saving
- £18,900–£47,200
- Payback period
- 4.8–7.4 years
- CO₂ prevented
- 17–43 t/year
Best for
Hotels, hospitals, business parks, MAT schools, leisure centres
Typical structure: Mono-pitch or T-frame
Large
250–500 kWp
150–300 spaces
£225k–£700k
Installed cost
- Annual generation
- 218,800–437,500 kWh
- Annual saving
- £47,200–£94,500
- Payback period
- 4.8–7.4 years
- CO₂ prevented
- 43–86 t/year
Best for
Supermarkets, retail parks, large hospitals, universities
Typical structure: T-frame typical
Enterprise
500 kWp+
300+ spaces
£450k+
Installed cost
- Annual generation
- 437,500+ kWh
- Annual saving
- £94,500+
- Payback period
- 4.8–7.4 years
- CO₂ prevented
- 86+ t/year
Best for
Multi-site retail, logistics parks, large NHS Trusts, airports
Typical structure: T-frame or double cantilever
How system size is calculated
1. Parking geometry
The maximum number of canopy bays is calculated from the car park dimensions and layout, accounting for access routes, fire lanes, and any structural constraints (underground services, trees, overhead cables).
2. Electricity demand matching
Self-consumption should be modelled from half-hourly meter data against the proposed system's generation profile. For 24/7 sites (hospitals, cold storage) an array can be sized aggressively; for 09:00–17:00 offices it should be sized more conservatively to avoid over-generation.
3. DNO capacity check
Grid export capacity at your connection point constrains the maximum system size in some cases. Run a DNO pre-application check before finalising the design to avoid a surprise at connection stage.
Pricing assumptions and what drives cost
Installed canopy cost ranges reflect the three main variables that drive UK commercial canopy pricing:
- Ground conditions: Pad foundations on competent chalk or gravel are the cheapest option (£700–£1,100 per column). Pile foundations on made ground, soft clay, or over services add £600–£1,200 per column. Commission a ground investigation before fixing the foundation design.
- DNO connection: A simple meter upgrade costs £2,000–£8,000. A new DNO-owned substation on a 500 kWp+ site can run £80,000–£250,000. Model this at feasibility stage — it can materially change the business case.
- EV charging integration: Add £2,500–£8,000 per AC charger or £15,000–£40,000 per DC rapid charger to the canopy cost, offset partly by the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme (£500 per socket, up to 40 sockets).
- Architectural specification: Standard galvanised or painted steel in a standard RAL colour adds nothing to the base cost. Custom column profiles, corten steel, glass-glass bifacial panels, or premium architectural finishes add 10–25%.
- Planning complexity: Permitted Development adds zero planning cost. Full LPA application adds £5,000–£18,000 in planning consultant, architect, and application fee costs, plus 8–13 weeks of elapsed time.
All prices shown are indicative for budgeting purposes. Your actual cost will be set by an installer's quote after a site survey and ground investigation. For the bay-by-bay arithmetic, see how many solar panels fit on a car park.
Get an indicative figure for your car park
Enter your spaces and postcode: the page works out an indicative size, cost range, generation and payback straight away, and we reply by email.
Instant canopy estimate
Size and price your car park canopy in 30 seconds
Enter the number of parking spaces and your postcode and the page works out an indicative system size, capital cost range, annual generation and payback from the figures published on this site. It is an estimate, not a quote. Add your email afterwards if you want us to look at it with you; we reply by email.