Solar carport and solar car enclosure

Carports are designed to protect your car or any other vehicle from the elements. They are usually installed against the gable end of your house or at the front of your garage if you have one. They can also be freestanding, in an island version, at the end of your driveway for example. The solar carport is specially equipped with solar panels with micro-inverters, which guarantees optimal operation. Thanks to its large roof area, this installation will provide you with a minimum power of 3Kwc**, which will cover all or part of your electricity needs throughout the year.

In addition, our microinverters can be equipped with Wi-Fi functionality, which allows you to access your production data in real time via a dedicated application. This means you can monitor the electricity production of your solar carport at any time, providing an additional advantage.

Solar panels use solar energy, a free source of energy generated by the UV rays emitted by the sun. To convert this energy into electricity, a specific installation consisting of photovoltaic panels is required.

Each solar panel is made up of photovoltaic cells that capture the sun's rays and transform them into direct current electricity. This direct current electricity is then directed to a solar microinverter, where it is converted into alternating current. Once converted, this current can be sold in part or in full to your energy supplier, or be directly fed into your domestic network, which is known as self-consumption.

A solar carport, also known as a photovoltaic carport, is a structure designed to shelter all your vehicles (cars, motorbikes, bicycles, camper vans, caravans, etc.), but that's not all. It allows you to protect them from the elements while producing green, carbon-free energy. With a roof equipped with at least 8 photovoltaic solar panels (approx. 15 m²), the solar carport guarantees a minimum production of 3 kWp.

The solar carport can be installed by attaching it to the house or as a stand-alone unit, at the end of the garden or at the end of a driveway, depending on the layout of your home. Although widespread in northern European countries, it is gaining popularity in our region and offers many advantages. The solar carport is an excellent alternative to the closed garage, and when it is equipped with photovoltaic panels, it actively contributes to the reduction of your energy expenses. Several configurations are available, you can opt for a custom-made carport according to your specific needs and the size of your vehicles.

The solar carport from the AKENA group has been specially designed to withstand outdoor weather conditions over the long term. It has a powder-coated aluminium structure, with Qualicoat, Qualimarine and Qualilaquage class 2 certification, and comes with a 10-year warranty. Two roof options are available: 65 mm sandwich panels, offering optimal insulation and waterproofing, with photovoltaic panels positioned on top, or a second, simpler option, specifically designed to accommodate photovoltaic solar panels.

The solar carport, like the brand's other carport models, can be equipped with various closing options, such as fixed or sliding privacy screens, blinds or even sliding glass doors.

The solar carport can be equipped with a Wallbox, allowing you to charge your electric car. This charging station is attached to one of the posts, depending on the configuration of your installation. We have chosen to equip our solar carports with the Wallbox Copper SB because of its versatility, reliability and elegant design.

The Copper SB charger has an integrated type 2 plug, allowing you to connect type 1 and 2 vehicles and therefore charge any electric vehicle. It is controlled using a dedicated application, and its compact and resistant design is IK10 certified, guaranteeing resistance to water and dust. So you can enjoy a practical and efficient charging solution for your electric vehicle.

Installing a solar carport has significant advantages in terms of controlling your electricity bill.

Let's take an example: In France, a medium-sized photovoltaic installation has a power output of 3 kWp, which corresponds to a production of approximately 3200 kWh per year. The solar carport from the AKENA group is custom-designed, but its basic configuration includes 8 photovoltaic panels on the roof to guarantee a minimum production of 3 kWp**. Average household consumption varies according to many factors such as equipment, insulation, number of people in the household, etc. It is therefore difficult to give a precise estimate.

However, if we consider an average consumption of 10,000 kWh per year for a household, with your solar carport configured at 3 kWp, you can make savings of around 30% per year.

The cost of a solar carport depends mainly on its size. The larger the roof surface, the higher your electricity production will be, which will have a greater impact on controlling your household energy costs. The advantage of a carport equipped with solar panels is that you can amortise your investment. In other words, by adding solar panels to your carport, you can gradually recoup your initial expenditure thanks to the electricity generated.

There are several support schemes for households wishing to install solar photovoltaic panels. These include financial assistance for installation work, measures to encourage the self-consumption of your own electricity production, and the possibility of reselling all or part of your production.

• Reduction of the electricity bill
• Securing the cost of your kWh

Installing a solar carport allows you to actively contribute to the energy transition, whether by using the electricity produced for your own consumption and moving towards self-consumption in the home, or by reselling the electricity produced, either in whole or in part. All this can be done without the need for major work on your part. Installing a solar carport allows you to actively participate in the energy transition and benefit from the advantages offered by the available support schemes.