Sun-Ways tests solar panels between railway tracks

The Swiss startup Sun-Ways is piloting a project to install solar panels between active railway tracks to generate clean energy without using additional land. The pilot program, located in the village of Buttes, uses a system of pistons to fix panels to steel rails, allowing them to be removed in approximately 10 minutes for track maintenance.

If implemented across the entire Swiss rail network, Sun-Ways estimates the technology could meet up to 30% of the country's public transport energy demand. The project has gained international interest, with partnerships and pilot programs expanding to France, Italy, and South Korea. In France, the national rail operator SNCF has signed an agreement to test various installation models across its 29,000-kilometer network, noting that the panels may also reduce maintenance costs by preventing vegetation growth between tracks.

In Italy, experts suggest that equipping 20% of the rail network could add 1 gigawatt of capacity, enough to power 1 million homes. While the technology offers a solution to land scarcity for solar farms, researchers have noted potential challenges regarding electricity loss during transmission to the grid. The economic viability of the system is expected to be assessed through 2028.