Hey everyone! We're new to solar energy and considering building a bifacial solar carport instead of mounting panels on the roof or having a bulky system in the yard. We're really interested in designs, specifications, and especially pictures, as we haven't seen many examples out there. We're thinking about going with an all-wood design and would love to hear any suggestions or insights you might have. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Carports are a fantastic idea! Just a heads-up: the higher you mount the panels, the trickier the engineering gets. Wind can turn those panels into a lever, which could be a real concern. Wood designs can be challenging too, since timbers can vary quite a bit, and they often require more maintenance—especially during storms! I’ve seen that steel carports can hold up for 25-30 years without much hassle, while a wooden one might keep you up during a windy night. Have you checked out the Chiko carports? They’re solid once installed!
I’ve looked into bifacial solar carports, and they are definitely on the pricier side compared to the panels themselves. Most of the models I’ve seen accommodate anywhere from a single vehicle up to five. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures handy as they were primarily metal designs, but they do look pretty sleek!
If you're looking for inspiration, just Google 'solar carport'—you'll find tons of images and videos that might help visualize what you want to build!
Yeah, finding wooden options has been tough! We’ve only come across a couple, and one was just a simple lean-to. I think we’re hoping to create one that fits at least two cars, maybe even three!