November 2, 2025
Throw shade, make watts
New South Korean national law will turn large parking lots into solar farms
Korea slaps solar roofs on big parking — fans cheer, skeptics cry boondoggle
TLDR: South Korea now requires solar roofs on large parking lots, including existing ones. Commenters cheer cooler cars and EVs powering homes, while skeptics question costs and math, and political fights flare over whether the US and Canada will ever follow through.
South Korea just threw shade in the best way: parking lots with 80+ spaces must install solar canopies, and not just new builds — old lots too. Officials promise cooler cars, new jobs, and clean power. The crowd? Split between “genius” and “gimmick.”
Practical folks love the comfort angle and grid perks, while math hawks like pingou side-eye that Arizona stat about “offsetting 185,000 vehicles,” calling it fuzzy. Cost crusaders led by jandrese say car-park solar hardware is pricey and niche, but hope this mandate sparks competition and cheaper mounts. Optimists like thelastgallon dream bigger: daytime charging plus cars sending power back home — a rolling battery army. That’s the vehicle-to-grid idea (your EV can push electricity back to the grid), and commenters want owners paid for it.
Geography nerd jansan drops a spicy fact: Korea gets serious sun, even more than parts of Southern Europe. Meanwhile, cmrdporcupine lights up the politics, claiming North America’s oil-friendly leaders are busy exporting climate denial. Cue memes: “Solar hats for cars,” “free A/C for dashboards,” and the evergreen “parking lots are butt-ugly heat islands” rallying cry.
If you want receipts, the concept already exists — here’s an Arizona carport example — but the real show is the comment war over costs, comfort, and who gets paid for all those shiny watts.
Key Points
- •South Korea will require solar canopies/carports on all public and private parking lots with more than 80 spaces, including existing lots.
- •The policy amends the Enforcement Decree under South Korea’s renewable energy promotion law and was approved in late September, taking effect later this month.
- •Aims include expanding renewable energy, creating solar and construction jobs, stabilizing the grid, and providing shade and vehicle protection.
- •An official stated the installations improve land-use efficiency and offer tangible comfort to parking lot users during hot weather.
- •U.S. examples cited include a 657 kW solar carport project in Arizona and a New York initiative expanding zoning for EV charging sites by about 400 million sq ft.