Solar Rails Are Here: Switzerland’s Train Tracks Just Started Generating Power

Why build solar farms when the tracks are already laid? Switzerland’s new solar railway pilot proves that rail infrastructure can double as clean power generators — and countries from Japan to the US want in.

Switzerland has launched a groundbreaking renewable energy pilot project that turns railway infrastructure into a clean power source. Developed by Swiss startup Sun-Ways, the initiative features removable solar panels placed between active train tracks, making it the world’s first such operational solar power plant.

As reported by swissinfo.ch, the system was installed near Buttes in the canton of Neuchâtel, comprising 48 solar panels mounted directly on the sleepers between the rails. These panels are removable, allowing for track maintenance, and are deployed using a specially-designed train created in partnership with Scheuchzer, a Swiss track maintenance company.

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How Swiss Rails Are Becoming Solar Power Plants

According to CleanTechnica, the pilot project delivers 18 kW of capacity and is expected to generate approximately 16 MWh of electricity annually, enough to power four to six households. The energy can be used to feed local grids, power railway infrastructure, or contribute to traction energy systems powering trains.

Sun-Ways co-founder Joseph Scuderi said the idea emerged while waiting for a train in 2020, questioning why nothing was done with the space between the rails. Five years later, his company is conducting the world’s first real-life test of a solar railway system open to traffic.

Unlike previous efforts in Germany, France, and Japan, Sun-Ways’ approach is unique in its removability and rapid deployment. A piston-equipped train can install or remove up to 1,000 square metres of panels per day, allowing efficient installation and ensuring that rail operations are not disrupted. To keep the panels efficient, a cylindrical brush can be mounted on passing trains to clean dust and debris. The anti-reflective coating also prevents glare, a crucial safety consideration for both train operations and maintenance.

National and Global Interest

The Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT) has approved a three-year test phase, allowing Sun-Ways to study performance across seasons and operating conditions. FOT spokesperson Florence Pictet praised the initiative, stating, "It is good that rail and public transport companies are innovating, including in renewable energy production."

However, the FOT remains cautious and insists on long-term observation, particularly because the pilot is situated on a line where trains travel no faster than 70 km/h. This slower speed reduces risk during the test phase. Sun-Ways estimates that solar panels could be installed on half of the world’s railway lines. If rolled out across Switzerland’s 5,317-kilometre rail network, the company believes it could produce up to 1 TWh of electricity annually, covering about 2% of Switzerland's total electricity consumption.

Global Partnerships and Potential

Interest in the technology has already spread globally. As swissinfo.ch notes, South Korea, Japan, Romania, Spain, and the United States are exploring partnerships. Taebon Park, CEO of South Korea’s KRSPGPC, attended the project’s unveiling and praised the electrical connectivity and removal features of the panels. A pilot project in South Korea is expected to launch soon. Similarly, Dieter Napitupulu of Indonesian firm Mutitron Automa expressed plans to pilot the technology in Bogor before scaling across Java. Meanwhile, Japan’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is monitoring the Swiss project to assess potential adoption in its own decarbonisation efforts.

Switzerland is testing a removable solar power system on the unused space between railroad tracks.//t.co/XsYA3fLCbL

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Preserving Land, Protecting Climate

Lubomila Jordanova, co-founder of Greentech Alliance, lauded the Sun-Ways concept as a "highly scalable, efficient and environmentally friendly way to produce clean power." Martin Heinrich, a researcher at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute, however, questioned the long-term viability of removable panels. He stated that PV systems are usually installed to last 20 to 30 years without being moved, and removability could increase costs and risk of damage.

Still, the ability to install panels in built-up areas rather than rural land makes the approach attractive for sustainability and urban planning, aligning with Switzerland’s commitment to increase solar generation sevenfold by 2035.

Sources: swissinfo.ch; CleanTechnica