This seems to be a much better option than setting up large solar farms in the middle of the CA desert. Parking lots are eyesores anyway so cover them up with solar panels. Why ruin pristine nature with solar panels.
The difference is the deserts get serious insolation. Or put another way, the places with major sunshine do not also contain major cities. Another problem with cities is the structures shade the panels.
Depends on the cities... here in the Phoenix area most of the buildings are only 1-2 stories.. and most of the larger parking lots don't get any shade from the buildings... There are several of these covered lots here in Phoenix, and more going up. A lot of places have covered parking anyway, so throwing solar panels on them isn't that much more cost in labor, and payoff in 8-12 years usually, with some profites for 5-15 after (at least from the costs of the past decade as a forcast).
There's hardly any 'desert' near major cities with skyscrapers. Maybe LA but still nothing like NY.
IMO putting serious money into solar panels anywhere other than sun belt of US is waste of money.
