Solar panels on parking spaces will help both drivers and the environment. The parking spots on Michigan University State Campus are protected from rain, snow, and sun since they are covered with solar panels.
These are built above the parking lot on steel towers tall enough for tailgaters to park their RVs beneath.
Aside from excellent parking, the institution benefits from solar energy, which is produced at a reduced cost and with less pollution.
Why not cover all parking lots with solar panels, like the institution has done?
However, by phasing out fossil fuels, the worst effects of global warming may be averted. According to our calculations, each solar panel installation has a unique financial assessment and amount of energy. Rooftop and ground-mounted solar panels generate electricity based on their latitude and the angle at which they are positioned.
According to the poll, 90% of Americans wanted more solar farms by 2020.
The High Initial Costs of Solar Energy
The installation of solar panels will save homeowners money. According to Michigan University, it saves $10 million over a 25-year period. The institution receives the electricity generated by the panels through a power purchase agreement. They show that, while they are prepared to buy the electricity, they do not own the panels.
A carport, according to Tim Powers, a research and policy associate at Inovateus Solar, costs around 40% more than a ground-mount system. The same firm established the Michigan State System. He also stated that it is more expensive owing to added labour, material, and engineering costs.
Change Possibility
Tyler Kamikazewski, vice president of sustainability at Inovateus, stated, “We see the construction of carports in parking lots as a fantastic dual-use narrative. The use of land for both solar power production and agricultural crops is referred to as dual use.
According to a research published in Nature, large-scale solar is mostly found outside of major cities in the United States. 33% live on farms, 51% in deserts, and 2.5% live in cities.
Choosing how to use land may require time and effort. Desert solar projects pose social and environmental concerns. Rural solar farms are one of the contentious issues.
In addition to publicising one of the several awards it received for the array. The state of Michigan emphasised that their installation kept 45 acres of farmland in operation.
Parking lots, on the other hand, serve only one use. Parking and sun canopies enhance the experience.
However, as interest in sustainability rises, solar parking spaces will become more common.
Kanczuzewski said that defending is difficult. They are, nevertheless, quite common in the South West. In contrast to Inovateus, which mostly works in the Midwest, installing solar over parking lots is unusual.
According to solar capacity, 95% of Inovateus installations are ground-based utility projects. Almost three projects, or 5% of the total, are above parking lots, with rooftop (30%) and on-ground (65%) developments following.
They are not a popular choice, according to Power. They may, however, be exceedingly sustainable.
Kanczuzewski stated, “I believe it is truly sustainable. Why not install solar in an existing place instead of acquiring additional land or property?
