Tucker Sadler was retained to design an innovative “solar carport” for Kyocera, one of the world's leading producers and suppliers of solar energy products. The design incorporates 30 modular canopies that shade parked vehicles while generating solar electricity using Kyocera's latest photovoltaic modules. It was installed at the main parking lot of Kyocera's North American headquarters. The system's 251-kilowatt generating capacity will annually produce approximately 450,000 kilowatt hours of electricity from sunlight, equivalent to the annual electrical needs of 68 typical California homes. The carport's canopies combine the modular building and sustainable design expertise of Tucker Sadler with Kyocera's world-leading achievements in developing and producing photovoltaic modules and systems. The design showcases the innovative concept of transforming a parking lot into a clean electrical generator, easing strain on the commercial utility grid while keeping vehicles shaded. The modular design accommodates any size or shape -- giving virtually any parking lot an economical solar retrofit option that promotes energy independence and preserves the environment.
