Carport as a Part of Commercial Infrastructure
For modern car dealerships, the parking area serves as an extension of the exhibition space. It shapes the first impression, emphasizes the brand’s status, and must meet high requirements for aesthetics and functionality. At the same time, the parking area is one of the most logical zones for integrating solar power generation.
The solar carport project for the BMW dealership in the Kyiv region has become an example of how an engineering solution can simultaneously fulfill energy, infrastructure, and reputational functions.
Project Conditions and Initial Requirements
The project is being implemented for the commercial parking area of a BMW dealership commissioned by ABMK LLC. The site is an operating facility with constant customer and vehicle traffic, which significantly influenced the design and installation approach.
Key parameters of the facility:
- Location: Kyiv region, Ukraine
- Number of parking spaces: 164
- Installed PV capacity: 596 kW
- Number of photovoltaic modules: 1,010
- Parking space width: 2,750 mm
- Snow load: 1.61 kPa
- Wind load: 0.41 kPa (up to 26 m/s)
The client set elevated requirements regarding the geometric precision, reliability of the structures, and architectural alignment with the dealership’s space.
Engineering Challenges
The main challenges of the project were not tied to individual technical parameters, but to their combination:
- large-scale installation of carports on the territory of an operating dealership;
- the need to maintain parking logistics and accessibility;
- the high aesthetic standards characteristic of the BMW brand;
- ensuring the calculated load-bearing capacity under the given climatic loads.
Under these conditions, the carport had to be perceived not as a technical add-on, but as an organic part of the commercial environment.
Engineering Solution
For the site, PILLAR Model BLADE / Y-type solar carports on screw foundations (ground screws) with steel load-bearing structures were selected.
This solution made it possible to:
- implement a large-scale carport system without concrete work or prolonged earthworks, which was critically important for an operating dealership with constant customer traffic;
- ensure precise geometry with a large number of parking spaces;
- optimize the placement of supports considering the increased width of the parking spaces;
- adapt the structure to the requirements of a commercial facility with high footfall.
The Y-type carport configuration enabled effective organization of the parking area with a parking space width of 2,750 mm, optimized the support spacing, and reduced the number of supports without compromising load-bearing capacity, while preserving the visual lightness of the structures.
Implementation Process
Design.
A detailed analysis of the technical specifications and the master plan of the parking area was carried out. The carport structures and screw foundations were calculated considering snow and wind loads as well as operating conditions. A full set of workshop design documentation (KMD) was prepared for manufacturing.
Manufacturing and Logistics.
The metal structures of the carports and the ground screws were manufactured in accordance with the design solutions and provided with anticorrosion protection. Deliveries to the site were organized in stages, taking into account the installation schedule and dealership operations.
Installation.
Geodetic layout, installation of screw foundations, and assembly of steel carport structures were completed. The work was carried out in phases without fully suspending the operation of the parking area, with strict adherence to all design coordinates.
Result and Impact
As a result, a comprehensive engineering solution is being implemented for the commercial parking area of the dealership:
- 164 protected parking spaces with solar canopies;
- installed PV capacity of 596 kW;
- compliance with European standard requirements;
- reliable structural performance under calculated climatic loads;
- architectural integration of the carports into the dealership space;
- readiness for long-term operation.
The carport system simultaneously enhances the energy efficiency of the facility and its infrastructural value.
Why the Client Chose PILLAR
The key selection factors were:
- experience in implementing large-scale carport systems;
- engineering design in accordance with EU standards;
- the ability to install on screw foundations without concrete works;
- a comprehensive approach — from design to installation.
PILLAR Expert Conclusion
The experience of this project confirms that solar carports for dealerships should be designed as part of the commercial infrastructure rather than as a separate energy element. The BLADE / Y-type model demonstrated its effectiveness by combining architectural expression, engineering reliability, and scalability, which makes this solution suitable for commercial parking areas with increased requirements for geometry and operational conditions.
For similar projects, we recommend starting with an analysis of the parking layout and operational scenarios — this approach makes it possible to create a solution that simultaneously supports the brand, the business, and energy efficiency.
