Government Reports Solar Carport Installations in Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Two Union Territories.

The Indian government has announced that "solar carports" — parking structures with a solar panel roof that provide shade for vehicles while generating clean electricity — have been installed in Gujarat, Jharkhand, and the Union Territories of Chandigarh and Ladakh. The information was provided to the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.

Prahlad Joshi, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, stated that a solar carport has been set up at the Modhera village as part of the scheme for the solarization of the sun-temple town, which was approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in March 2020.

Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the MNRE is offering financial assistance to group housing societies and residential welfare associations to install rooftop solar plants. These plants are intended to power common facilities, including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and solar carports.

The government also highlighted specific projects, including a solar carport at the Sachivalay, Sardar Bhavan parking lot in Gandhinagar, built by the Gujarat Roads and Building Department. Additionally, Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) has installed a 50 kWp solar carport with a 200 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia. In Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) has implemented a 2 MW solar carport at the Jharkhand High Court premises.