In a groundbreaking initiative, Swiss startup Sun-Ways has installed removable solar panels between train tracks near Buttes, in the canton of Neuchâtel.
This pilot project, inaugurated on April 24, 2025, marks the world’s first operational solar power plant integrated directly into active railway lines.
Harnessing Renewable Energy from Railways
The installation comprises 48 solar panels, each rated at 380 watts, collectively delivering an 18 kW capacity. These panels are mounted on a 100-meter stretch of track and are designed to be both installed and removed quickly, allowing for uninterrupted train operations and essential track maintenance.
Sun-Ways’ innovative system utilizes a specially developed machine by Swiss track maintenance company Scheuchzer, capable of installing up to 1,000 square meters of solar panels per day.
The panels are equipped with anti-reflective coatings to prevent glare and are cleaned by cylindrical brushes attached to trains, ensuring optimal efficiency.
Potential Impact and Future Prospects
If deployed widely across Switzerland’s 5,320-kilometer rail network, Sun-Ways estimates that the system could generate up to 1 terawatt-hour of solar power annually, accounting for approximately 2% of the country’s total electricity consumption and powering up to 300,000 households.
The electricity produced can be utilized in three ways: reinjected into the railway company’s low-voltage network to power infrastructure like switches and stations, fed into the local electricity grid, or directed into the traction energy network that powers locomotives.
The project has garnered international interest, with countries such as South Korea, Spain, Romania, China, and the United States exploring similar collaborations.
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