Metric: Solar Powered Parking Project

As cities around the world strive to become smarter and more sustainable, solar powered parking systems are emerging as a key innovation in urban infrastructure. These systems not only address growing concerns around environmental sustainability but also contribute to improved urban mobility and the overall quality of life in cities.

A prime example of this forward-thinking approach is Riyadh, where a recent solar powered parking initiative, supported by Metric Group, shows how cities can modernise their infrastructure with renewable energy solutions.

Why Solar Powered Parking?

Solar powered parking solutions are increasingly being adopted by city planners due to their multiple advantages. These include:

• Environmental sustainability: Solar powered machines run on renewable energy, reducing a city’s reliance on the electrical grid and lowering carbon emissions.
• Cost-effectiveness: Once installed, solar powered units often have lower operating costs, as they are powered by free and abundant solar energy.
• Energy independence: Solar systems provide energy independence, particularly in areas with ample sunlight, ensuring that critical infrastructure remains operational even in the event of grid outages.

In cities where space is limited and environmental concerns are growing, parking infrastructure that integrates solar technology can be a game-changer. These systems make better use of urban spaces, offer energy savings, and reduce the overall carbon footprint of city operations.

Case study: Riyadh’s solar powered parking project

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is a prime example of how solar powered parking systems can be deployed rapidly and effectively. In collaboration with the Riyadh Region Municipality, Metric Group helped implement a solar powered parking project aimed at modernising the city’s parking infrastructure.

This initiative is part of Riyadh’s larger transformation into a smart city, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which emphasises sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation.

Key Project Goals:

• Enhancing parking efficiency: By organising public parking spaces and reducing random parking, the system makes it easier for both residents and visitors to find available spots.
• Supporting sustainability: The solar powered machines contribute to the city’s environmental goals by using renewable energy sources and minimising the carbon footprint of urban infrastructure.
• Improving user experience: Our user-friendly and hassle-free parking machines feature large touch screens and multiple payment methods, including digital and cash options.

Metric Group’s role

As a trusted partner in delivering advanced parking solutions, we are installing 500 solar powered, Universal pay-and-display machines as a part of this project. Offering versatile payment options, including card, coin, and QR code, Universal machines boast a user-friendly touch screen interface. By collaborating with key partners like IDEX and Geidea we can ensure that the system is secure, reliable, and tailored to Riyadh’s unique urban landscape.

As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Riyadh is undergoing a profound transformation into a smart city. We are proud to contribute to this vision by offering energy-efficient, sustainable technologies that align with the city’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation.

The ideal climate for solar powered parking

With temperatures in Riyadh sometimes peaking to the high 30s and an average of nine hours of sunlight per day solar powered infrastructure is ideal for a city which enjoys abundant sunlight year-round.

Designed to withstand Riyadh’s desert climate, Metric’s team worked tirelessly to ensure long-term durability and minimal maintenance of the machines.

The environmental benefits of Riyadh’s solar powered parking project are also significant. Each machine is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 560 kg annually. This contributes to Saudi Arabia’s broader goals of promoting renewable energy and reducing the environmental impact of urban growth.

The future of solar powered parking

The success of the Riyadh Parking project trial phase has set the stage for future expansion. Plans are already underway to deploy an additional 900 solar powered parking machines in 2025, with potential extensions to other cities across Saudi Arabia.

By investing in solar powered parking solutions, Riyadh is not only addressing its current mobility challenges but also laying the groundwork for a future where urban infrastructure is both smart and sustainable. Other cities worldwide can look to Riyadh as a model for integrating renewable energy into public services, advancing both environmental and urban development goals.

In summary, solar powered parking systems offer a scalable, sustainable solution to the challenges of modern urban mobility. With cities increasingly adopting smart technologies, these systems are becoming an integral part of future-ready urban planning. As demonstrated by Riyadh’s ongoing project, the shift toward solar powered parking represents a crucial step in building greener, smarter cities.

About Metric Group Limited

METRIC  is first and foremost a technology company. We design and develop new and innovative solutions for the parking and transport sectors. METRIC have a long history of being at the forefront of design and innovation, our company has produced many firsts from the first ticket machine to allow overlapping farestages and first all-electronic desktop calculator to the world’s first electronic pay & display machine.