Everything Solar Forum

Hello!  I'm proposing a solar project on a parking lot in an abandoned mall in my neighborhood.  I've proposed rooftop projects before, but never something like this.  I'm envisioning not a carport, since the parking lot is abandoned, but basically a ground-mount system in a parking lot.  Has anyone ever seen this before?  Any recommendations about the best way to go about this?  I'm wondering about how to calculate the cost estimate for the steel needed for the structure.  Also, the electricity generated from the array would likely go to an adjacent grocery store.  I'm thinking there would be an additional cost for running a line to connect to the grocery store.  If anyone has any thoughts/recommendations, I'd love to hear them!  Thank you!

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Adam Rossi
N/A
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Adam - Maybe look into covering the roof of the adjacent grocery store first with PV then maybe some PV car chargers in the parking lot.

Solar power can feed grocery store

Off-Grid Solar Charging For EV Cars In Parking Lots

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Timothy Mcbride
CEOOwner
Sol-Era R & D
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Got it, thank you, Timothy!

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Adam Rossi
N/A
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-14-2025 07:42 AM
From: Timothy Mcbride
Subject: Putting solar on a parking lot

Adam - Maybe look into covering the roof of the adjacent grocery store first with PV then maybe some PV car chargers in the parking lot.

Solar power can feed grocery store

Off-Grid Solar Charging For EV Cars In Parking Lots

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Timothy Mcbride
CEOOwner
Sol-Era R & D
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Dear Adam,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I think the parking lot idea is great for reusing unused space. I'd recommend starting with a quick feasibility study - measure the available area, check sun exposure, and talk to the utility about interconnection options. For steel costs, ground-mount racking usually needs about 25–50 tons of steel per MW, so you can multiply by current steel prices for a ballpark figure. Also, look into federal and state solar incentives, especially for brownfield redevelopment - they could make the project much more viable.

PVWatts

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency® - DSIRE

Solar Energy Technologies Office | Department of Energy

RE-Powering America's Land | US EPA

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Tariku Demissie
Ph.DStudent
Marche Polytechnic University, Acncona, Italy
ANCONA
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This is so helpful, thank you much, Tariku!  I appreciate the advice and resources!!!!!

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Adam Rossi
N/A
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-15-2025 01:17 AM
From: Tariku Demissie
Subject: Putting solar on a parking lot

Dear Adam,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I think the parking lot idea is great for reusing unused space. I'd recommend starting with a quick feasibility study - measure the available area, check sun exposure, and talk to the utility about interconnection options. For steel costs, ground-mount racking usually needs about 25–50 tons of steel per MW, so you can multiply by current steel prices for a ballpark figure. Also, look into federal and state solar incentives, especially for brownfield redevelopment - they could make the project much more viable.

PVWatts

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency® - DSIRE

Solar Energy Technologies Office | Department of Energy

RE-Powering America's Land | US EPA

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Tariku Demissie
Ph.DStudent
Marche Polytechnic University, Acncona, Italy
ANCONA
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You’ll need to check state laws.
Many states do not allow a power supply line to cross a property line. It violates a clause known as retail wheeling. Texas law prohibits this, check with your utility.
If there is vehicle access to the parking lot the cost of the supporting structure will likely be more than the cost of the rest of the system, sometimes by a considerable amount.
I’ve done a few covered parking structures that were installed with solar systems and the steel and construction costs are quite high compared to a standard ground mounted solar array.
Good luck with your project.

David Power

Well, depending on the size of the array, make sure the grocery store has 3-phase on there transformer pole. When arrays start to get way above 25KW, they like to switch to 3 phase usually. If it is not already on the pole, cost will be much higher. If the store already has commercial service, mush less change will be needed there....

I would think the cost might be a bit less, since you can work off clean, supportive asphalt rather than a dirt field.

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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
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