The solar pergola
Shade for the patio or the pool, and power for the house. The same heavy timber and solar roof as our carport, built for an outdoor room.
A solar pergola does two jobs at once. It turns the patio or pool deck into an outdoor room with real shade, and its roof makes electricity every day the sun is up. Ours are built the way our carports are: heavy rough-sawn timber, curved knee braces and black steel plates, strong enough for coastal wind.
Shade your way
- Full shade: solid panels set edge to edge keep the sun and rain off the table.
- Dappled shade: panels with narrow gaps, or glass panels that let some light through, throw stripes of sun on the deck.
- Evenings: string lights and outlets on the posts, powered by the roof overhead.
How much power a solar pergola makes
| Structure | Roof area | Solar (approx.) | Power per day (NC average) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio pergola, 12 x 16 ft | 192 sq ft | About 3 kW | About 11 kWh |
| Pool pergola, 16 x 20 ft | 320 sq ft | About 5 kW | About 18 kWh |
| Two-truck carport, 20 x 24 ft | 480 sq ft | About 7.5 kW | About 28 kWh |
Estimates: about 15 to 16 watts of panels per square foot of roof, and about 3.5 to 4 kWh a day per kW of panels averaged over the year in North Carolina, more in summer and less in winter. Your site, shade and panel choice change the numbers.
For scale, the average U.S. home uses about 29 kWh a day (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2024). A pool pergola can cover a good share of that on its own, and more alongside a carport.
Built for the coast
Heavy timber posts on concrete piers, through-bolted steel connections, and panels rated for high wind. Rinse salt spray off the panels now and then and they keep working.
Power for the house, the pool and the truck
A solar pergola feeds the house like any solar roof. It can run the pool pump through the hottest part of the day, when the panels make the most. Wire an EV charger to the system and the same roof charges an electric truck. Add a two-way charger and a transfer switch, and that truck can run the house in an outage. How it works →
Pergola or carport?
A solar carport covers the driveway and two full-size trucks. A solar pergola covers the patio or pool and becomes the place you spend summer evenings. Both make power, both are built from the same heavy timber, and they work together on one system.
Solar pergola questions
What is a solar pergola?
A pergola with solar panels for a roof. It shades a patio, deck or pool area and makes electricity for the house at the same time.
How much power does a solar pergola make?
It depends on size and sun. A 12 x 16 ft pergola holds about 3 kW of panels, which makes roughly 11 kWh a day averaged over the year in North Carolina. A 16 x 20 ft pool pergola makes about 18 kWh.
Does a solar pergola give shade?
Yes. Solid panels give full shade and keep the rain off. Panels set with narrow gaps, or glass panels that let some light through, give dappled shade with stripes of sun.
Can a solar pergola charge an electric truck or power the house in an outage?
Yes, when it's wired with the right equipment. The panels feed the house and an EV charger, and with a two-way charger and transfer switch an electric truck can run the house when the grid goes down.
Pergola or carport?
A carport covers the driveway and the trucks. A pergola covers the patio or pool and becomes an outdoor room. Both make power. Many owners start with one and add the other.
Ready when the lights go out
Tell us about your place and what you drive. We'll tell you straight what a Bugging Out carport would do for you.