HOLT Renewables to design solar power canopy for Austin transit provider

© CapMetro / HOLT Renewables

Austin-based HOLT Renewables, a full-service solar energy solutions provider, will design and construct a $34 million solar-powered charging infrastructure solution for CapMetro, Austin’s regional public transportation provider.

The company will design and construct a photovoltaic canopy system of more than 7,000 solar panels over 12 acres that will power more than 200 buses.

bp pulse, the electric vehicle charging arm of energy company BP, will support the project by overseeing the installation of its patent-pending mounting system that integrates pantograph charging with solar canopies.

“As an agency, we are very excited to be building out this infrastructure for our zero-emissions buses,” said David Carr, CapMetro director of zero-emissions vehicles. “This revolutionary project represents one of the largest deployments of pantograph bus chargers in North America, and it will give our agency the ability to continue expanding our zero-emissions bus fleet for a healthier Austin.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2023.

The agency has pledged to transition its bus fleet to zero emissions by 2035. The board approved the purchase of approximately 200 zero-emissions buses in 2021.

CapMetro serves a population of more than 1.2 million in its 543-square-mile service area. It provides more than 70,000 daily weekday trips through buses, trains, and paratransit and vanpool vehicles.