Switzerland Launches Innovative Clean Energy Project with Removable Solar Panels Installed Between Railway Tracks
Switzerland has launched a new clean energy initiative by installing removable solar panels between railway tracks. The goal is to turn unused rail space into electricity-generating areas without affecting transportation systems or the environment.
A Swiss startup named Sun-Ways has begun a pilot project near the town of Buttes in the countryside of Neuchâtel, western Switzerland. The project has been approved by the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) after undergoing over 10 months of safety reviews. It is being developed in collaboration with the company Scheuchzer SA.
The system allows for the installation of up to 1,000 square meters of solar panels per day. These panels are designed to withstand vibrations and wind forces from trains traveling at speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour, as well as extreme weather, including wind speeds of up to 240 km/h.
If the pilot proves successful, Sun-Ways plans to expand the technology across Switzerland’s entire rail network, which spans over 5,000 kilometers. The company estimates that this could generate up to 1 terawatt-hour of electricity per year—around 2% of the country’s total electricity consumption, enough to power approximately 300,000 households.
The project has attracted international interest, with countries such as France, Spain, Romania, South Korea, China, the United States, and Thailand currently in talks to explore or adapt the model.
Despite its potential, some experts have raised concerns about possible risks such as panel cracking, short circuits, or glare affecting train drivers.
Sun-Ways has acknowledged these concerns and is working on anti-reflective coatings for the panels and designing automatic cleaning brushes that can be mounted on the back of trains to maintain panel efficiency.
This initiative represents a model of using existing infrastructure to produce clean energy without encroaching on natural landscapes. If widely adopted, it could become a renewable energy blueprint for countries with extensive railway networks in both urban and rural areas.
