Solar carparks with EV chargers are becoming increasingly common across Australia. Photo: Solar Car Parks.
Six years after a government-commissioned report backed the creation of solar carparks in the ACT, this untapped energy resource may finally be on the way for a selection of government carparks, including at shops and sports fields.
The ACT Government is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers to design, construct and operate canopies with solar PV systems over carparks that will connect to the grid and electric vehicle chargers.
The government does not intend to pay suppliers to construct, operate and maintain the facilities but issue a 10-year operating licence, or potentially a 20-year licence where they can show that an extended term would deliver superior value for money, increased commercial returns, enhanced infrastructure investment, or other tangible benefits to government.
It hopes to have solar carparks up and running from the end of next year.
Solar carparks offer shade and shelter, electricity generation and charging for electric vehicles, which this year have taken off in popularity as a result of surging fuel prices due to the Middle East war, an increasing range of models and falling prices.
Growing demand for EV chargers and renewable energy is driving a surge in solar carparks.
The 2020 Evenergi report Installation of covered carparks with solar powered vehicle charging stations concluded that solar carpark installations could be commercially viable.
It said inland Canberra with its dry climate, abundant sunshine and large number of utilised carparks was ideal for such facilities.
“Most commercial, retail or educational sites that follow an operating period with peak energy consumption between or similar to 9 am – 5 pm in the ACT are potentially able to benefit from solar carparks, and provide electric vehicle charging to employees and customers,” the report said.
“Large energy consumers such as shopping centres, universities, libraries and other attractions are ideally suited to benefit from installation of solar carpark systems.
“There is a genuine business case in support of solar carpark infrastructure to facilitate electric vehicle charging, vehicle shade and protection, and savings in electricity costs for nearby buildings.”
The tender document says the government’s goals are to increase renewable energy generation and support transport electrification; support electricity network stability and resilience; and drive local business innovation, capacity and skills.
It is encouraging proposals that include battery energy storage systems (BESS) integrated with the solar PV canopy and EV charging infrastructure to “improve the usage of on-site renewable energy and deliver additional operational, environmental and/or commercial benefits”.
The tender says preference may be given to proposals that incorporate batteries where it demonstrates clear value for money and benefit to the government.
Suppliers must be able to design, supply, install, commission, operate and maintain public EV charging infrastructure integrated with the proposed solar PV carpark canopy.
They will need to decide the best charging solution, including the type, number, capacity and configuration of EV charging stations (AC and/or DC chargers), to deliver a commercially viable and user-focused charging station.
The list of carparks includes Chisholm sports field, Charnwood shops, Harrison playing fields, Taylor sports field, Lyneham Southwell Park carpark (Mouat Street and Northbourne Avenue), Lyneham netball courts (building adjacent carpark and Thurbon Road, Ainslie shops, North Weston Park and Ride and Yamba Drive opposite the Canberra Hospital.
The list is not conclusive and other sites may also be considered.
The government hopes to have the infrastructure built from September to November 2027 and operating from December 2027.
The tender closes on 19 November.
