For homeowners who either cannot use their roof for solar or simply prefer not to, a different setup is coming onto the market.
Artisanal PV, a Delaware-based solar firm, is shaking up the home-solar industry with an outdoor carport that hosts a solar panel array.
Here's what to know
As Solar Builder Magazine reported, the company's flagship model is a freestanding carport designed to generate solar power for a home without relying on a roof installation.
The structure is about 18 feet long and 15 feet wide, the company said, with room for one large SUV or two smaller sedans.
At full build-out, the modular unit can accommodate up to 12 standard residential solar panels and is rated for 4.8-5.2 kilowatts of output. In addition to shading a parked vehicle, it could help a home generate part of its own electricity and potentially power EV charging.
Ken Fields, founder of Artisanal PV, told the outlet that appearance was a key consideration.
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"It's a beautiful and thoughtfully designed structure that is unique compared to other offerings on the market," Fields told Solar Builder Magazine.
The company said it wants the carport to work in residential environments rather than resemble a bulky commercial installation, and it offers customizable exterior inlays including wood molding, tiles, and brick veneers.
More background
A rooftop system is not practical for every home, and that limitation is part of what this product is meant to address.
Solar production can be limited by excessive shading, an unfavorable roof angle, or an unfavorable roof orientation. Some homeowners also run into added complications from homeowners associations or historic preservation requirements.
For those households, a solar carport could provide another path to using cleaner energy.
Generating electricity at home can reduce dependence on utility-supplied power, potentially lowering monthly bills over time. When combined with EV charging, it could also reduce fuel costs and gasoline-related air pollution.
Artisanal PV also said the structure is built to handle severe weather, including hurricanes and heavy snow.
What's being done?
The company is testing demand while working toward commercialization. It is accepting fully refundable advance-reservation preorders for $150.
Artisanal PV expects production to begin in Q4 2026, and the first deliveries are planned for late spring 2027.
If interest builds, the design could give more households a way to go solar without major roof work or the aesthetic tradeoffs some homeowners want to avoid.
Wider adoption of options like this could also help cities and utilities expand distributed energy generation across more neighborhoods, potentially reducing grid strain while giving residents another opportunity to save money at home.
"We're pretty excited about this idea," Fields told Solar Builder Magazine. "According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for any number of reasons it's estimated that up to 49% of our housing stock can't currently install solar panels."
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