Quest Renewables has received numerous inquiries about water management in solar carport structures throughout the company’s decade in the industry. Traditionally, water management for carports involved adding a corrugated metal layer underneath the panels and array structure to effectively make the system “watertight” and prevent water from passing through the panels to cars and people underneath the system. However, in recent years three forces are converging to drive a revolution to this traditional approach: 1) cost, 2) bifacial panels, and 3) potential tax code changes as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act. 

The traditional method of adding a corrugated metal layer to the array increases the amount of steel required which drives up the cost of the entire solution, and is inefficient for all project stakeholders. With the recent implementation of bifacial panels, the corrugated metal layer may prevent the amount of light from passing underneath the array to meet the backside of the bifacial panels and therefore hinders the full production of energy. Finally, potential tax code changes add uncertainty to whether or not projects with the traditional corrugated metal solution will qualify for the investment tax credit. 

Quest Renewables created the Rain Shield™ System to address the need for a new, efficient approach to water capture. The Rain Shield System uses a combination of polyurethane tape and expanding gasket material paired with metal channels to transport water from the surface of the array to a single point in the structure. Once converged to the single point, water then travels through a traditional gutter system to a point designated by the customer, such as a catch basin or storm drain.

If you are interested in learning more about the Rain Shield™ or ways Quest Renewables can enhance your next carport project, contact Quest Renewables today!