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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-14-2025 05:08 AM
From: Adam Rossi
Subject: Putting solar on a parking lot

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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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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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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-14-2025 05:08 AM
From: Adam Rossi
Subject: Putting solar on a parking lot

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!

------------------------------
Adam Rossi
N/A
------------------------------

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!

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!