Switzerland Pilots First Solar Power Plant on Active Railway Tracks

In Switzerland, a solar technology startup is making use of open spaces between railway tracks to place solar panels. The panels can collect solar power, even with trains using the railway throughout the day.

Sunways, a photovoltaic inverter manufacturer, is piloting a new solar project on active railway tracks in Switzerland’s canton of Neuchâtel. The company was just given the green light from the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) to begin deploying solar panels on 100 meters of railway operated by transN.

“There are three ways to use the photovoltaic current produced: it can be reinjected into the railway company’s LV (low voltage) network to power the railway infrastructure (switches, signals, stations), it is also possible to reinject the current into the electricity network of the nearest local GRD (Distribution Network Operator) or by reinjecting the current into the traction energy network that powers the locomotives,” the company explained, as reported by CleanTechnica.

As PV Magazine reported, the pilot project will include an installation of 48 solar panels on the railway. In total, the solar power plant will have a capacity of around 18 kilowatts and is expected to produce 16,000 kilowatt-hours per year. The project will cost CHF 585,000 (about $708,700) to complete.

“In the long term, our ambition is to produce energy between the rails and re-inject it into the traction current of the trains so that it is practically 100% self-propelled,” explained Sunways founder Joseph Scuderi, as reported by SwissInfo.

The project was initially rejected by FOT in 2023 because of concerns over how the solar panels could affect the railway and its maintenance. However, Sunways tapped professors to conduct an independent study on the proposal, as well as Geste Engineering, for a safety analysis to prove that the specialized solar panels would not interfere with the active railway.

Now, FOT has permitted Sunways to move forward with the proposal, which will utilize specialized technology by railway maintenance company Scheuchzer SA for installing the panels. The panels feature anti-glare coatings for added safety, and cleaning brushes installed on trains will help remove dust and debris from the solar panels as the trains use the railway.

To prevent problems with the railway infrastructure, Sunways and its partners designed the panels to be removable. When maintenance is needed, the panels can be detached, then reinstalled after maintenance is completed.

According to Scheuchzer SA, it can install up to 1,000 square meters of solar panels daily and in a cost-effective manner, which means the project could scale rapidly if the pilot is successful. 

Ongoing testing and safety analyses, including for the removal and reinstallation of panels, will be required to meet FOT requirements, PV Magazine reported.

While renewable energy expansion is crucial to reducing energy-related emissions, there has been criticism of solar installations in the Alps, particularly in otherwise untouched landscapes. In 2023, voters rejected a proposal to install solar on mountainsides, as reported by EuroNews.

“As controversies grow around the installation of solar power plants in the Alps, Sunways technology could provide a relevant response and the necessary increase in solar-powered electricity production,” Sunways said, as reported by PV Magazine. “Indeed, it exploits an unused space without disrupting train traffic or maintenance and inspection work on the tracks.”

As CleanTechnica reported, the pilot will be monitored and analyzed over the next few years. If successful, it could ultimately scale to cover all railways in Switzerland and produce enough energy to meet about 2% of the country’s total electricity demand.