Solar carports are the clearest dual-use land story in the industry. The footprint already exists as sealed, levelled, revenue-neutral ground. By raising a structural canopy over it, the same parcel of real estate keeps doing its original job - sheltering vehicles - while generating energy above it. No greenfield clearing, no competing land use, no productive ground given up to a ground-mount array.
For property owners, the value runs deeper than generation. A shaded, well-lit, EV-equipped car park is a genuine amenity that tenants, customers and valuers notice. It is one of the few solar assets that improves the property it sits on rather than simply bolting onto it.
Engineered as structure first
A carport is a building, not a mounting frame, and we treat it that way. Every canopy is designed to the National Construction Code and the relevant Australian Standards, with site-specific wind loading, footing design and steel detailing carried out by chartered engineers. Coastal and cyclonic regions get region-appropriate wind classifications rather than a one-size frame.
We model snow, wind uplift, point loads and corrosion exposure so the structure carries its panels for decades. Hot-dip galvanised steel, concrete pier footings and certified connections mean the canopy meets the same scrutiny any other structure on the site would face.
Built for electric vehicles
The space under a carport is the natural home for EV charging. We integrate AC and DC charging at the design stage so cabling, switchboards and metering are sized for the fleet you will run in ten years, not just today. Generation overhead and charging below turn a car park into a self-contained energy precinct.
- Hot-dip galvanised structural steel canopies
- Site-specific wind, uplift and footing engineering
- Integrated AC and DC EV charging infrastructure
- Lighting, drainage and accessibility designed in
Land that earns twice
The economics rest on land efficiency. You are monetising airspace that was previously dead - generating behind-the-meter energy that offsets daytime consumption, while the ground keeps parking cars. For retail, industrial, healthcare and council sites, that is energy yield without surrendering a square metre of usable land.
Where export is viable, surplus generation can be sold into the grid or contracted under a power purchase agreement, adding a revenue line to an asset that previously only cost money to maintain.
Delivered end to end
Meridian designs, finances, builds and operates the asset. We handle structural certification, the grid connection, the electrical fit-out and ongoing maintenance, so the carport arrives as a complete, warranted piece of infrastructure rather than a coordination headache across multiple trades. One contract, one accountable party, one performance guarantee.
Frequently asked
Yes. We stage construction to keep most bays in use, working bay by bay so trading and access continue throughout the build.
Most commercial carports require development approval as a structure. We prepare the engineering and planning documentation and manage the submission on your behalf.
Typically yes. Shaded parking, lighting and EV charging are tangible amenities that improve tenant appeal and are increasingly recognised in commercial valuations.