Solar Canopies

The canopy that pays for itself*

Provide shade from the sun and shelter from rain whilst collecting clean energy for your school or business.

Faraday Solar Canopies are free standing structures with a triple purpose of providing shade and shelter whilst also generating free electricity for your organisation; it is perfect for reducing your carbon footprint and saving costs on electricity bills.

Our Faraday Solar Canopies have a strong, steel construction covered by 32mm box profile steel roof sheeting; top quality solar panels are then fixed to the roof to generate electricity for your building. The Faraday Canopy is supplied galvanised as standard for ultimate corrosion protection and they can be powder coated to any standard RAL colour to fit into your environment. Other RAL colours are also available on request.

This free standing solar canopy can be used as covered waiting areas, playground canopies, entrance canopies, walkways and much more. It is also brilliant for Outdoor learning areas, offering the perfect opportunity to teach pupils about the solar energy and the environment

* The Faraday Solar Canopy can pay for itself over time through the Government Feed in Tariff scheme. This scheme will allow you to earn a generous added revenue through your canopy’s generation of electricity which, over time will accrue enough income to match the initial cost of your canopy.

Faraday Solar Canopy Gallery

Why choose a Faraday Solar Canopy?

Our Faraday Solar Canopies are perfect for organisations that are unable to have solar panels installed on a roof due to the direction that the building is facing or if shading is a problem. We can position our canopies to ensure that you get the best from your solar panels.

The solar panels that we use for our Faraday Canopy offer the best in class performance generating 80% of the specified rated output within 25 years of delivery and have a long life span, ensuring you get a canopy which will deliver a great return on your investment.

Able Canopies' range of Faraday Canopies are ideal for schools, colleges, the health sector, farms, village halls or any commercial building or organisation which is looking to become more sustainable and save on electricity bills. Installing a solar canopy demonstrates dedication and support to renewable energy, sending a very positive message to your students and/or the community about the use of clean solar energy to minimise environmental impact.

Benefits of the Faraday Solar Canopy

• The canopy will pay for itself - leaving you with a canopy that makes you money!
• Reduce your carbon foot print - Save on electricity bills whilst also reducing your carbon footprint and protect yourself from rising energy prices
• Solar Panels Fitted by our MCS accredited sister company
• Benefit from the Feed-in Tariff - The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) is a Government-backed scheme where your energy company pays you for producing renewable electricity. Please see below for more information about the Feed-in Tariff
• Tax free income – The income that the solar canopy will produce you is tax free and indexed to RPI
• Can cover large areas – The Faraday Mono Canopy can be up to 6 metres in projection and any length, providing you with the ultimate shelter system for large areas
• Excellent Learning aid – Installing a solar canopy can be an excellent learning aid helping in lessons such as Geography and Science. The day to day operation and output of all our PV systems can be displayed in communal areas via special screens or even sent to a website which can be accessed in lessons to show your pupils firsthand how the solar canopy works.
• 25 year life expectancy – Our solar canopies are build to last giving you value for money and complete peace of mind
• Positioned to ensure optimum solar efficiency - Allowing those with unsuitable existing roofs to experience the benefits of solar power
• Our Solar Panels have the best in class performance with a long life span and are guaranteed to offer at least 80% of the specified rated output within 25 years of installation 
• Weather resistant solar panels - effective at resisting moisture and corrosion, also resistant to adverse weather conditions such as hailstones
• 100% UV protection – The canopy offers 100% UV protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays, protecting those underneath
• Strong construction – The Faraday Solar Canopy is constructed from a steel frame providing you with a canopy that is strong and robust
• Roof – The Canopy is covered with 32mm box profile steel sheeting which is plastic coated
• Wide range of colour options – The frame is available powder coated to any standard RAL colour
• Galvanised – The canopy frame is galvanised as standard for ultimate corrosion protection

Excellent Learning Aid - Installing a solar canopy can be an excellent learning aid helping in lessons such as Geography and Science. You can choose to have a display screen installed where you will be able show the pupils how the solar canopy works. The display screen shows how the panels are working and how much energy they are producing.

Solar Technical Information

Below is a graph to illustrate how a Faraday canopy can pay for itself over time and begin to earn an income.

Please note: The above graph is an example and is correct as of now, however, due to the government reviewing the FIT tariff, this may change.

To achieve optimum efficiency solar canopies should be south facing, and free from shading from trees or buildings. We will work with you to identify the optimum position for your canopy. Different Kilowatt peak (kWp) systems are available from 1 kWp to 4 kWp allowing you to find the right size and price for your requirements.

How Our Solar Canopies work:

Your electricity supplier will pay you for each unit of electricity you generate.

You can then use this electricity, meaning you don't have to import from the National Grid.

Any electricity you don't use is exported back to the grid and you get paid an extra export tariff.

You can import electricity back to your building from the national grid when you need it.

Feed-in Tariff Technical Information

The Feed In Tariff scheme is a Government programme to promote the uptake of renewable energy technology. As a result of the Feed in Tariff scheme the canopy can pay for itself and also generate an income.

Installing a solar canopy means that not only will you be helping the environment, you may be eligible to receive money from your energy supplier due to the government’s Feed-In Tariff scheme (FIT).

You will be paid for simply generating electricity even if you use it. You can export electricity to the grid and get paid a further tariff or you could choose to use it yourself and save on your own electricity bills.

It is not the government that pays you the FITs payment but your energy supplier –please be aware that at the moment only the biggest six main energy suppliers are required to provide these payments by law. Smaller energy suppliers may not offer FIT’s payments- they can opt in to offer them however it is not required by law, please check with your energy provider as to whether they provide the FiT payments.

If you are eligible to receive FITs you will receive three financial benefits:

Generation tariff – Once you have registered your solar system, your energy supplier will pay you a set rate for each unit (or kWh) of electricity you generate. The tariff levels are guaranteed for the period of the tariff (up to 25 years) and are index-linked. A full list of the generation tariffs can be found in the FIT payment rates published by the Government.

Export tariff – If you generate energy that you do not need to use you can export it to the grid. You will then be paid for exporting the electricity as a additional payment on top on your generation tariff.

Energy bill savings – You will save money on your electricity bills as you will not be importing as much electricity from your supplier and you will be using the energy you create free of charge. 

Why choose Able Canopies

We have teamed up with our sister company, Able Green Energy, to supply and professionally fit the solar panels to our Faraday Canopies for ultimate safety and a long-lasting, durable canopy system. Able Green Energy is Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited and the solar panels are fitted with a MCS accredited electricity box meter.

We will ensure that your solar canopy is in the best position to gain solar power from the sun offering you more savings and optimum feed-in tariffs. This is something that cannot be done if you were to have solar panels installed to your building as your building may not be facing the sun's direction which will result in you receiving little or no sun exposure.

Canopy Frame Colour Options

Canopy Roof Colour Options

Alternatives to this product

If a solar canopy is not for you please see our alternatives below:

• Glass Canopies
• Tarnhow Canopies
• Free Standing Canopies
• Wall Mounted Canopies
• Walkways
• Entrance Canopies

F.A.Q

1. How do solar panels power work? a. The panels ideally need to be South facing to gain maximum sun exposure, the energy from the sun is then converted into electricity.
2. Why should I have solar panels installed? a. By having solar panels installed you will be saving money on electricity bills in the long run and reducing your carbon foot print.
3. What is the life span of the solar panels? a. Our solar panels are guaranteed for 25 years.
4. Is planning permission required for a solar canopy? a. It depends on your building and location, in most cases planning permission will not be needed. However, if you do require planning permission, we are able to assist you with this. Click here for more information about our planning help.
5. Will the panels still create solar energy during the winter months? a. Yes, the panels use light to generate power. The solar panels will charge quicker with bright sunlight however as long as there is light the panels will charge.
6. How much is a solar canopy? a. It depends on the whether you have the Mono or the Duo Faraday Solar Canopy installed. It also depends on the size of the canopy and amount of solar panels you choose. Contact us now to book a site survey and receive a free, no- obligation quotation.
7. Is there any funding or loans to help with the cost? a. We do not offer loans, however we do have an easy payment lease option. Please contact us for more details about our leasing options. We also have a funding page that contains funding links and tips click here for more information Funding Help.
8. Do I need any special equipment to claim the feed-in tariff? a. When we install the canopy, we will install a MCS accredited electricity meter box
9. Are there any free offers on solar panels? a. We do not offer free solar panels- some companies do and, though they may be free, you will not be getting the full benefit of the solar power as the company will take the majority of the solar energy leaving you with little effect on your electricity bills.
10. What do the solar panels contain? a. Solar panels contain photovoltaic material, our panels contains monocrystaline silicon
11. What does PV stand for? a. It stands for Photovoltaic , this is used to describe the technology which a device, such as a solar panel uses to produce electricity.
12. Why do you say the canopy will pay for its self? A. With a Faraday Solar canopy you can become eligible for the Feed in tariffs where your energy company pays you to produce solar electricity- over time you will earn enough to cover the cost you paid for your canopy.
13. How much energy could I produce? a. This depends on the size of the system and the position in which it is installed. When we carry out a full site survey, we will work this out for you using the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculation.
14. Can the solar panels be moved to another canopy once installed? a. Yes, this is possible, please call for more information.

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