What are photovoltaic shelters ?

Photovoltaic shelters are a source of electricity production and provide access to recharging electric vehicles, while forming a rain barrier and a solar carport. They are generally provided with a single surface (a canopy roof) made up of photovoltaic panels.

The photovoltaic panels are fixed on an integration system whose spacing depends on the panel model. ADIWATT, DOME SOLAR, HELIOSOLAIRE, ...

Photovoltaic shelter - Monopitch canopy roof

New regulations - French car parks will be given a facelift

November 4, 2022 :
The Senate adopts article 11 of the bill relating to the acceleration of the production of renewable energies.
This will make the installation of photovoltaic shelters mandatory for outdoor car parks with more than 80 spaces.

January 11, 2023 :
The bill is amended by the National Assembly.
Article 11 will make the installation of photovoltaic shelters mandatory for outdoor car parks with an area greater than 1 500 square meters.

March 10, 2023 :
Publication in the Official Journal of the French Republic:
Article 40, LAW no. 2023-175 of March 10, 2023 relating to the acceleration of the production of renewable energies.

Another important date to remember:

Fall 2023 :
Release date of Photovoltaic Shelters, the software for designing photovoltaic shelter structures.
We provide you this software free of charge to carry out your estimates in the preliminary project phase.
Results certified by a structural engineer and a complete calculation report will be essential before building. This is why we offer you an additional service aimed at providing you with a detailed calculation note, as requested by the inspection offices before the execution phase and covered in France by our ten-year insurance.

Other uses of photovoltaic shelters

Photovoltaic shelters are not only useful in car parks. Many other surfaces can benefit from these installations which protect against bad weather and heat while generating electricity:

sports fields
schoolyards
material storage spaces for companies
camping or picnic areas
and of course electric service stations (chargers)

General design criteria for photovoltaic shelters

The photovoltaic shelter is optimally oriented when the lower edge of the roof slope is to the south. The orientation towards the south makes it possible to capture the sun's rays over a greater part of the day and when the sun is at its highest. It is also in this position that the photovoltaic shelter will be most effective as shelter.

When installing in a car park, the recommended dimensions are:

a height under the structural elements allowing the passage of vehicles, i.e.:
- for light vehicles: 2.70m,
- for heavy vehicles: 4.30m along county roads, 4.75m along the highways.
a sufficient width to park a single vehicle (minimum 5m long) or two vehicles facing each other, while leaving space for the column of the photovoltaic shelter.
a length corresponding to a multiple of the dimension of the solar panels and including the spaces between each of them.
spans between columns corresponding to a multiple of the width of the parking space (minimum 2.30m wide).

When installing on a sports field, the dimensions are recommended by the regulations issued by the corresponding federation.

For storage spaces, the dimensions depend on the nature of the materials to be stored and the space required for the movement of handling equipment.

These criteria are not exhaustive and must be specified according to the use for each project.

Software Information

Download the brochure

The eurocodes-tools.com platform offers free software that is accessible in your web browser.

See the updates of Photovoltaic Shelters

Scheduled for fall 2023 - Contact us to get your early access