The government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which includes Australia’s capital, Canberra, wants private companies to cover public carparks with solar panel canopies and install electric vehicle chargers underneath, without the government paying to build them.
It’s a model worth watching for Nigerian cities, where EV charging is scarce and grid power is unreliable.
Related: What is an Electric Vehicle – Simple Guide for First-Time Users
What the ACT Government is planning
According to Region Canberra and the official tender listing, the ACT’s City and Environment Directorate has opened an expression of interest called “Solar carpark with EV Charging” (released 30 September 2026, closing 19 November 2026).
Suppliers are invited to design, build and operate:
- solar PV canopies over carparks, connected to the grid
- public EV chargers, AC and/or DC, with the supplier choosing the number and type that make commercial sense
- optional battery storage. Proposals that include batteries may be preferred if they show clear value
The business model
The government won’t pay suppliers to build or run the facilities. Instead, it would grant a 10-year operating licence, or potentially 20 years if a longer term delivers better value or investment. The operator earns money from the electricity and EV charging.
Where
Sites under consideration include carparks at sports fields, local shops and a park-and-ride, such as Chisholm sports field, Charnwood shops, Harrison playing fields, Ainslie shops, North Weston Park and Ride, and a carpark opposite Canberra Hospital. Other sites may be added.
When
The government hopes to build from September to November 2027 and have the carparks operating from December 2027.
Why now?
- A 2020 government-commissioned report concluded solar carparks could be commercially viable in Canberra, citing its dry climate, abundant sunshine and busy carparks.
- EV demand in Australia has risen this year, which Region Canberra links to high fuel prices, more EV models and falling prices.
- Solar canopies also provide shade and shelter, and can help stabilise the electricity network.
The ACT’s stated goals are to increase renewable energy, support transport electrification, improve grid resilience and build local business skills.
What Nigerian cities could learn
Nigeria’s EV charging network is tiny. Lagos has about 22 public charging stations, heavily concentrated on the Island, and Abuja has only a handful. Charging operators also struggle with unreliable grid power.
The Canberra model offers ideas that fit Nigerian conditions:
- No upfront government money. Licensing public carparks to private operators avoids the budget problems that stall many public projects.
- Solar plus batteries solves the power problem. Nigerian charging stations already rely on solar-hybrid systems and generators. Solar canopies with storage could make charging reliable without diesel.
- Shade is valuable in our climate. Covered parking in Lagos, Abuja or Kano heat is a selling point in itself.
- Natural sites exist: shopping malls, airports, universities, government secretariats, stadiums and BRT or rail park-and-ride stations.
- Long licences attract investors. A 10–20-year licence gives operators time to recover costs, which matters in a market with high interest rates and currency risk.
The challenges in Nigeria: low EV numbers (so less charging revenue at first), high equipment costs tied to the exchange rate, and security for expensive equipment. A model that also sells power to nearby buildings, or serves electric kekes and motorcycles, could improve the economics.
Sources
- Original report: Region Canberra, 2 Oct 2026
- Tender listing: Tenders ACT
- 2020 feasibility report: ACT Government (Evenergi report, PDF)
- Nigerian charging context: 234Drive
