Kia Builds 10MW Solar Canopy to Combat Climate Risk

In March 2023, a severe hailstorm struck Kia’s West Point, Georgia, manufacturing campus, damaging over 13,000 vehicles and triggering tens of millions in losses. For a facility producing several hundred thousand vehicles annually—including the Telluride, Sorento, and EV9—the storm marked a turning point in how the company assesses physical risk.

Kia responded by rethinking the structure of its operational infrastructure. Rather than building a traditional hail shelter, the automaker led a collaborative effort to develop a multi-functional canopy system that serves both as weather protection and an onsite renewable energy generator. Once completed, the 3.2-million-square-foot solar carport will become the largest Behind-the-Meter solar installation in Georgia, according to Georgia Power, delivering 10 megawatts of clean electricity while reducing physical exposure to extreme weather.

This approach reframes resilience as an investment, not a cost—offering a dual benefit: protection against future climate impacts and a long-term energy offset that aligns with evolving manufacturing economics.

Engineering a Resilient Energy Stack Across Four Partners

The scale and function of the canopy demanded engineering precision and alignment across structural, solar, and electrical systems. Vehicle Protection Structures (VPS) provided the hail-resistant architecture, combining steel framing with reflective fabric canopies designed to optimize bifacial solar performance.

SolMotiv took the lead on early-stage solar feasibility and grid integration ensuring the site’s energy profile met long-term performance and compliance needs. Ancora Systems brought its DuoRail racking system to the table—built to support horizontal panel installation without obstructing the rear of the modules, a key design feature that enhances bifacial light capture. ARaymond Energies rounded out the system with its PowAR Cinch fastener, enabling safer, faster panel installation from beneath the array and reducing labor demands on site.

Together, the system delivers both mitigation and energy generation. By leveraging unused parking space for dual-function infrastructure, the project reduces insurance exposure, stabilizes manufacturing uptime, and creates a measurable energy hedge.

By the time it's commissioned in early 2026, the carport is expected to generate enough power to offset roughly 10% of the plant’s annual electricity usage. That’s a material gain for a high-throughput, cost-sensitive manufacturing environment where volatility in energy and insurance pricing can ripple through the entire value chain.