AESOLAR sees carport PV and vertical PV as key growth segments driven by EV charging demand and land-use constraints
The company presented certified carport modules, vertical PV fencing solutions, and agri-PV systems designed for energy generation alongside land use
Product designs focus on safety certification, wind resistance, bifacial performance, and crop-friendly transparency
Solar deployment is increasingly constrained by land availability and rising land costs, while PV module prices continue to fall. This shift has accelerated interest in dual-use PV applications such as carports, vertical installations, and Agri-PV systems that combine electricity generation with existing infrastructure or agricultural activity. As the rapid growth of electric vehicles and the need for sustainable land use push the industry forward, manufacturers are increasingly finding applications beyond the mainstream ground- and roof-mounted solutions to develop application-specific module designs.
During the recent TaiyangNews Advanced Solar Module Applications 2025 Conference, AESOLAR presented a comprehensive strategy for these emerging segments. In a presentation titled “Expanding Solar Horizons from Carport PV to Agri-PV”, Hamid Hanifi, Director of Technology and Innovation at the company, discussed how dual-use applications are a necessary response to a market where agricultural land prices have risen significantly over 25 years while PV module prices have dropped by over 96%. Thus, integrating PV into existing surfaces, like parking areas and fences, is increasingly attractive for both residential and commercial setups.
Carport PV Linked to EV Charging Economics
One of the strongest near-term drivers for carport PV, according to Hanifi, is the rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs). Over the past decade, global EV adoption has grown more than 160 times, with EVs now accounting for around 18% of all new car sales.
Hanifi compared charging costs across different scenarios, noting that PV-powered wall boxes can deliver electricity at a fraction of the cost of fast public chargers. For drivers, this can translate into energy costs that are up to 16 times lower per 100 km than with fast charging and significantly lower than fossil fuel vehicles.
From an investment perspective, this creates a strong business case for carport PV. In commercial settings, electricity generated by carports can either be fed into the grid or sold directly to EV users, offering markedly different revenue profiles. Residential carports, meanwhile, allow vehicle owners to charge overnight using self-generated solar power.
To address this segment, AESOLAR has developed the Horizon carport module, designed to replace conventional carport roofing. The module is available in multiple formats, with power ratings of up to 435 W and 590 W, respectively, for areas above and below 2 m². It has a rated efficiency of 22.31% and 8% transparency to allow light to pass through beneath the structure. This module comes with a 30-year performance warranty and a product warranty of up to 30 years.
A key focus of the Horizon module is overhead safety. The module has received DIBt (Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik) certification from the German Institute for Building Technology, a requirement for overhead installations in Germany. Hanifi explained that the certification process involved non-standard testing aligned with building regulations, including impact, load, fire, and peel tests.
AESOLAR referenced a carport installation in Therme Bad Wörishofen, Germany, developed with project partner Timeless Planet, with a capacity of 1.34 MWp using more than 3,000 modules, which the company estimates can avoid around 601 tons of CO₂ emissions per year.
Vertical PV and the Case for PV Fences
Beyond carports, Hanifi highlighted vertical PV as a growing niche, particularly for fencing and noise barrier applications in urban areas, along highways, and sensitive sites such as hospitals and schools. He compared the cost of conventional fencing with PV-based alternatives, noting that in some cases a PV module with similar dimensions can cost less than a plastic fence panel and also generate electricity over its lifetime.
Agri-PV as the Largest Vertical PV Opportunity
According to AESOLAR, the largest long-term opportunity for vertical PV lies in agri-PV. Hanifi estimated that covering just 1% of cultivated agricultural land with agri-PV systems could result in nearly 1 TW of installed DC capacity globally. AESOLAR promotes its Terra product family for this segment. The Terra V vertical PV module offers power ratings of up to 580 W, bifaciality of 80±5%, and options for framed or frameless designs. The company is also developing modular, adjustable mounting systems to accompany the modules.
Design Changes to Address Vertical PV Challenges
Hanifi outlined several technical challenges associated with vertical installations. In standard bifacial modules, rear-side components such as junction boxes, cables, and frames can cause self-shading when exposed to direct sunlight, reducing energy yield and creating reliability issues.
To address this, AESOLAR redesigned the Terra module’s interconnection layout, relocating junction boxes and cables to one side and optimizing the rear frame design. According to the company, this reduces self-shading and improves afternoon energy yield, with gains of up to 3.2% in high-irradiance locations and around 2.8% in lower-light regions.
Wind loading is another critical concern for vertical PV. Hanifi presented comparative stress simulations showing that rotating solar cells by 90 degrees within the laminate significantly reduces the probability of fracture under high wind loads. In testing at 5,400 Pa, the Terra design showed substantially lower stress concentrations than conventional layouts.
Agri-PV for Elevated and Semi-Elevated Installations
AESOLAR also presented elevated agri-PV modules with up to 40% transparency, designed to support plant growth while generating power. These modules reach up to 395 W and are intended for applications such as vineyards, orchards, and greenhouses.
According to Hanifi, elevated installations can reduce water evaporation, create a more stable microclimate, and protect crops from extreme weather events, including hail, frost, and heavy rain. In collaboration with the Fujiro Research Institute, AESOLAR conducted trials in desert environments, where crops grown beneath PV structures experienced lower temperatures and higher humidity, resulting in improved plant quality and extended growing seasons.
Shade-Resistant Modules
Hanifi briefly presented AESOLAR’s next-generation shade-resistant module, scheduled for market introduction in 2026. According to test results cited in the presentation, the module is designed to maintain up to 68% of nominal power output under partial shading conditions that would significantly reduce output from conventional modules.
The full presentation is available on the TaiyangNews YouTube channel here.