Elevated solar racking engineered, manufactured and installed by one American team, built to fit more solar on crowded commercial rooftops in every climate.
Our racking systems are designed to withstand harsh weather, ensuring your solar panels remain secure.
Ensuring maximum exposure to sunlight and boosting energy efficiency.
Built from high-quality, weather-resistant materials, our racking systems are designed to last.
A rooftop solar canopy is an elevated racking structure that lifts solar panels above the HVAC units, vents, ductwork and other equipment on a commercial roof, so the array spans the obstructions instead of working around them. Universal Renewables designs, engineers, manufactures and installs these systems from Washington, DC, with aluminum racking made in the USA by its sister company Universal Aluminum Products. Elevated systems routinely increase the solar capacity a rooftop can host by 50% to more than 500%.
Our racking systems are the W System, Elevated Flush Mount, Flush Mount and High Tilt. See them on our completed projects.
Our rooftop solar canopies are proudly made in the USA.
The W system is the most versatile option available for all rooftop solar canopy configurations on the market.
The Elevated Flush Mount includes additional knee bracing to support greater height.
This system is ideal for penthouse roofs and buildings in historic areas.
High Tilt is the go-to system for installation near a penthouse wall, designed to optimize the use of roof space.
Every Universal Renewables racking system is manufactured in the United States by our sister company, Universal Aluminum Products, with 100% domestic content and 80% recycled industrial aluminum waste. American manufacturing means no long import wait times and no tariff-related delays.
Integrated capabilities
Specialized engineering, manufacturing and execution expertise for complex commercial solar projects.
Our 6+ years of focus on rooftop canopies result in a competitive advantage for our clients. No one knows more about rooftop canopy solutions and maximizing roof capacity than Universal Renewables and Universal Aluminum Products.
Universal Renewables solar installations and expertly engineered racking solutions across diverse environments.
Featured case study
The challenge: Preserve rooftop functionality while delivering an elevated solar canopy.
The outcome: The roof was replaced after the solar canopy was installed—a compelling example of lifecycle-focused design.
Featured case study
The challenge: Fit more solar on the roof of a downtown office building.
The outcome: The canopy doubled the installation and uses 90% of the roof area, producing more than 650,000 kWh a year, according to the DC Sustainable Energy Utility.
See the impact before and after installation.
BeforeAfter
Our team at Universal Renewables is dedicated to designing solutions that deliver maximum efficiency, reliability, and value.
We’re your partner in energy transformation. We guide you through every step, from initial consultation to installation, ensuring that your transition to solar is seamless and satisfying.
Universal Renewables installed a rooftop canopy to our Condominium building. This approach allowed two significant advantages for our relatively small multifamily building…great coverage, total panel area, because they didn’t need to work around the various us air conditioning units/heat pumps, but over them; and allowed for the bifacial solar panels to capture reflected light from the underside. All this improves our electrical production and efficiency! That is, more kilowatts per total roof area. As a side benefit, the canopy approach provides shade protection to our roof and the related HVAC systems.
Steve, Condo Board Member — Logan Station, DC
Parapet to parapet racking, built by installers for installers.
Yes. Elevated commercial solar racking systems can be engineered to position solar panels above existing HVAC units and other rooftop equipment, subject to structural, clearance, ventilation, safety, and maintenance requirements. This approach can increase usable installation area on crowded commercial rooftops. Read more about solar above HVAC equipment, see the Elevated Flush Mount System and the Burr project, or discuss your project.
Some elevated solar canopy systems can accommodate roof replacement underneath an installed array when designed with appropriate clearance, access, and structural considerations. Universal Renewables' Locke Hall project provides a real-world example. Read more about roof replacement under solar canopies, see the Locke Hall project and the W System, or discuss your project.
The appropriate racking system depends on rooftop obstructions, structural capacity, wind loads, height restrictions, maintenance access, and energy objectives. Elevated solutions such as Universal Renewables' W System and Elevated Flush Mount can provide additional flexibility for complex commercial rooftops. Compare the racking systems, see the W System on the 3801 Connecticut Ave. project, or discuss your project.
It can. By positioning solar panels above obstacles that would otherwise limit installation area, elevated systems may accommodate additional panels compared with certain conventional layouts. The actual capacity improvement requires project-specific engineering and layout analysis. Read about commercial rooftop solar and our engineering, see the Washington Square case study, or discuss your project.
Universal Renewables offers American-made elevated solar racking through Universal Aluminum Products. The company reports 100% domestic content and 80% recycled industrial aluminum waste in its UAP products. Read about Made in USA solar racking, see the systems and the Cityline project, or discuss your project.
The W System (portrait, 3–7 ft on the low side, 1–15 degree tilt), the Elevated Flush Mount System (landscape, 3–7 ft, 1–3 degrees), the Flush Mount System (landscape, up to 1–2 ft, 1–3 degrees) and the High Tilt System (portrait, up to 20 ft, 15–70 degrees).
We don’t just manufacture racking systems—we design, engineer, and support complete solar solutions. With U.S.-made systems (via our sister company Universal Aluminum Products), proven performance, and in-house engineering expertise, we help EPCs deliver projects on time, on budget, and fully code-compliant.
Yes. Our solutions are specifically designed to maximize usable rooftop space—even on crowded, mid-rise or high-rise urban buildings with HVAC units, vents, or other obstacles.
Our solutions are engineered to protect roofing integrity with flashing in line with manufacturer requirements, preserving roof warranties where applicable. We also offer systems that allow for roof replacement without dismantling the solar array, reducing downtime and costs.
Absolutely. Our internal engineering team provides location-specific stamped drawings, ensuring compliance with local building codes, wind loading, and structural requirements. Every project comes with guaranteed system integrity and performance.
Because our systems are Made in the USA, we eliminate long wait times and tariff-related delays. Our streamlined logistics mean faster deployment, predictable delivery, and reduced risk of project overruns.
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