what it is
Dual Use: Shade + Power
A solar canopy is a steel structure over a parking area with solar panels as the canopy roof. The same square footage does two jobs at once: it shades parked vehicles and generates electricity for the building behind it.
Parking lots are some of the most underused space a business owns — acres of asphalt that generate nothing and bake in the Texas heat. Canopies convert that dead space into an asset without touching your roof or your land. For sites where the roof is shaded, structurally limited, or already crowded with equipment, canopies can be the more practical solar option.
Lighting & EV Charger Integration
Because canopies are structures in the parking lot, they're a natural home for the site's electrical needs:
Integrated Lighting
Under-canopy lighting improves safety and visibility after dark — mounted directly to the structure, wired cleanly through it, and controllable for overnight hours.
EV Charging at the Stalls
Canopy structures carry the wiring and support charging equipment mounted on the columns — ideal for covered EV stalls where drivers park for hours. The solar above offsets the charging load below. See our commercial EV charging page for the full picture.
Site Considerations
Canopy projects live or die on site details. During assessment we look at:
Layout and Traffic Flow
Column placement has to respect driving lanes, turning radii, and ADA parking. The canopy layout is designed around how the lot actually moves — not just where the sun is.
Drainage
Canopies catch rainwater that used to fall on open asphalt. Drainage design routes it properly so the lot doesn't pond and the structure's footings stay sound.
Lighting Levels
Existing lot lighting may need to be reworked once canopies go up — heights change, and shadows fall differently. We coordinate lighting so the lot stays well-lit and safe.
Soil and Foundations
Canopies stand on engineered footings. Soil conditions determine foundation design, which is one of the bigger engineering line items on any canopy project.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Parking Spaces Do We Lose to Canopy Columns?
Very few, if the layout is done right. Columns are placed at row ends and along striping lines so they sit outside parking stalls. The assessment includes a layout that preserves your stall count.
Can We Add EV Charging under the Canopies Later?
It's much cheaper to plan for it during construction. Even if you're not installing chargers on day one, we can route conduit and size the electrical feed for future EV equipment — see commercial EV charging for how we plan charger sites.
Do Canopies Make Sense If Our Roof Can Hold Panels?
Sometimes. Roof systems are usually simpler, but canopies make sense when the roof is shaded, structurally limited, near end-of-life, or already full of equipment — or when you specifically want covered parking and charging as amenities. We assess both and give you an honest comparison.
What Happens to Rainwater That Lands on the Canopy?
It drains through the structure's gutter system to designated drainage points, just like a building roof. Drainage design is part of the engineering package, so the lot doesn't pond around the columns.