Out of the installed capacity, rooftop solar PV accounts for only 2.5 GW which is way to low when compared to the large-scale solar installations. But of late solar carports are demonstrating the potential to be a source of growth for the rooftop sector.
Carports are already there and do not need any additional land and can be an efficient use of space for solar installations.
India’s largest rooftop solar carport has been developed at Cochin International Airport by Tata Power Solar.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also has a multi-level rooftop solar carport set up at Unity One Mall in Rohini, Delhi. The carport was commissioned in November 27, 2017 and is expected to offset 438 tons of carbon emissions annually. The project falls under net‑metering program.
A large automobile manufacturer has huge land which they use for truck sales and storing farm equipment in Nashik (Maharashtra), Madhya Pradesh, and Jaipur (Rajasthan). They are converting all of these facilities to solar rooftop.
Another multinational truck manufacturer, is converting all its parking facilities to solar rooftop. Moreover, universities and educational institutes are also slowly turning toward rooftop solar.
What has accelerated adoption of solar carports is cost reductions. They have reached grid parity more recently. In times to come Carports have the potential to contribute greatly to PM Modi’s renewable energy target.
Reference- Mercom India, TATA Power website