An innovative new solar carport kit – made from Douglas fir glulam – is creating headlines in France and will soon be available in the UK. Easy to install and promising a low carbon, low-cost option, what is Pivolta?
Developed by leading French sawmiller PIVETEAUBOIS, Pivolta has been created to meet the growing demand for solar infrastructure and to help businesses comply with France’s ambitious renewable-energy regulations. Designed for quick installation and low environmental impact, it promises to be a stylish, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for car park owners looking to embrace renewables.
Under the French ‘Article 40 of Law No 2023-175’, all outdoor car parks larger than 1,500sq m must install solar canopies covering at least half their surface area. This forms part of the French Government’s renewable energy drive and from when the regulation was introduced in 2023, owners will have three to five years to comply, depending on the size of their car park. It is estimated that when all those subject to the law are compliant, this could generate up to 11 gigawatts of power. With many countries increasingly concerned with energy security, plus a worldwide trend of adopting more renewable energy and hitting ESG performance targets, Pivolta has an international market relevance and appeal.
The modular carport frames are made from Douglas fir glulam manufactured at PIVETEAUBOIS’ state-of-the-art plant in Sainte- Florence. Following extensive planting since the mid-twentieth century, France is now Europe’s biggest producer of Douglas fir, with the species accounting for 420,000ha of the country’s forest area and is being used widely for structural mass timber elements.
The Douglas fir glulam is Use Class 3.2 and pressure-treated in a choice of brown or grey and is regarded as more stylish in design than steel-framed counterparts with the aesthetics better suited to integrate with the local environment. Also, the robustness of the Douglas fir glulam means that the dimensions of the beams and columns can be refined and slender, further minimising ground disturbance and giving more parking space and room for people to get in and out of their cars.
Pivolta kits come in monopitch, double monopitch and dual-pitch valley roof variants, to suit different carpark sizes and configurations. This gives the option of four standard kit roof areas from 45sq m to 97.5sq m and An innovative new solar carport kit – made from Douglas fir glulam – is creating headlines in France and will soon be available in the UK. Easy to install and promising a low carbon, low-cost option, what is Pivolta? From Forest to Forecourt multiple kits can be connected. Their power output varies accordingly, with single monopitch carports having installation power of 10kWp per module and a double monopitch around 20kWp. The strength to weight ratio is superior to similar steel frames, as they are lighter and require less invasive, concrete block foundations. For harsher climates, reinforced versions are also available, with all models designed to meet Eurocode standards.
“These really fit into any kind of sustainable delivery strategy,” says Elisabeth Piveteau-Boley, Director, UK & Ireland for PIVETEAUBOIS. “Depending on the design variant and size, the timber kits store 2,676kg to 6,049kg of biogenic carbon, which is highly significant. Douglas fir glulam is a highly popular timber material and is slightly more durable than spruce. It also has some very rich tones that make it look very striking. The standardised design helps make them very price competitive and they are compatible with all sorts of different rooftop photovoltaic panels making integration straightforward.”
Each kit comprises a base module, an extension module, lateral bracing module and extension pieces module. All hot-dip galvanised steel bracketry is included, with black powder-coated joist hangers and screws as standard, but with stainless steel hangers available on request. The standard Pivolta kits are suited to most environments, but reinforced versions are available for areas prone to especially harsh weather. Installation instructions are standard across the range of sizes and roof variants.
“It is a very flexible and scalable kit,” says Elisabeth. “The kits can be combined for larger installations such as supermarket or airport car parks. The warm timber aesthetic underscores the environmental credentials of any specifier and turns a common and overlooked space into a visible statement of sustainability. These have been grabbing attention in France and will soon be available here in the UK. It is an exciting new addition to the PIVETEAUBOIS range that offers a cost-effective way to adopt renewable energy, use more timber and redefine sustainability within the car parking sector.”
