Dive Brief:

• In 2014, the U.S. will add more than 180 MW of solar carports, according to a new report from GTM Research.
• That will make it the fourth year running in which the installed capacity of solar carports, which are parking structures with solar panels, has exceeded 100 MW in the U.S. 
• The solar carport market is expected to continue to keep growing until the federal investment tax credit phases down in 2017. 

Dive Insight:

Traditionally viewed a niche market, carports are a growing sector within the non-residential solar market and the U.S. solar industry as a whole. There were 157 MW installed in 2013, according to the report, and developers have used state-level incentives to grow the market at a compound annual rate of 45% from 2010 to 2014.

Perceived low barriers to entry have made the market increasingly crowded. It will continue to grow over the next three years until federal subsidies begin to drop off, according to GTM Research. And while California has historically led this sector with over half of nationwide installs, new markets are emerging on the East coast despite higher costs.