Solar carports being marketed by Kyocera and partner

A new San Diego-based company has been formed to develop and commercialize solar carport structures for U.S. and international customers, based on panels from Kyocera Solar.

Envision Solar was formed by principals from Tucker Sadler Architects and a contracting firm after a collaboration with Kyocera to develop a 235-kilowatt solar carport installed at Kyocera’s North American headquarters in San Diego.

Individual carport modules, branded Solar Trees™, are combined to build large carport installations that Envision calls Solar Groves™. The concept combines the modular building and sustainable design expertise of Robert Noble, AIA, founder and CEO of Envision Solar, with Kyocera’s photovoltaic modules and systems.

A photo of Envision's first Solar Grove >>

The Solar Grove concept transforms a parking lot into a clean electrical generator that eases strain on the utility grid while keeping vehicles cool and shaded. Its modular design can build sites of any size or shape, giving virtually any parking lot an economical solar retrofit option that promotes energy independence.

Envision is offering “turn-key” solutions, including feasibility studies, design and engineering, contract management, entitlement/permit process guidance, construction, installation, financing options, system monitoring, and site maintenance.

While San Diego-based, Envision will offer, install and support the Solar Grove nationally, and is also receiving interest internationally, a spokesperson told Inside Greentech.

“This is a visually pleasing, architectural improvement to the community coupled with environmentally sound energy production,” said Tom Dyer, vice president of marketing and government affairs for Kyocera Solar.

In its first full year of operation, the original Solar Grove installed at Kyocera exceeded performance projections by providing 427,602 kilowatt hours of electricity — enough to power 69 typical San Diego homes — and saving approximately $50,000 in energy costs.

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