The innovative Swiss startup Sun-Ways has launched a groundbreaking project in the global energy sector. The company has officially launched the world’s first active on-line solar power plant that can be installed and easily dismantled on railway lines. This pioneering 18 kW plant, built on an active railway line from the city of Neuchatel to the Swiss Alps, will start generating electricity for passenger trains to pass over today (April 28) and supply power to the public grid.
The Age of Electricity Generation Begins on Railways
Launched by Sun-Ways as “the world’s first on-rail solar power plant open to rail traffic,” this innovative system consists of a total of 385 solar panels, each with a power of 48 W. The aim is to produce approximately 16 MWh of electricity per year thanks to this installation. This clean energy will be directly transferred to the public power grid, which is only 500 meters away from the plant’s installation site.
Green Light from Switzerland: Security Tests Successfully Completed
The Swiss Federal Office of Transport gave official approval to this revolutionary project in October 2024. Following this approval, the system developed by Sun-Ways has successfully passed various meticulously conducted safety and compatibility tests and all necessary permits have been obtained in full. Over the next three years, critical topics such as the panels’ coating durability, resistance to environmental pollution and potential impacts on the railway infrastructure will be subjected to detailed additional tests. The comprehensive data to be obtained from these tests will provide an important roadmap for whether removable solar panels can be seamlessly integrated into railway operations in the long term.
International Interest Intense: Many Countries Are Following Closely
High-level delegations from different parts of the world, including Belgium, France, Indonesia, Israel and South Korea, also attended this historic opening ceremony of Sun-Ways. Representatives from these countries are closely examining this innovative solution implemented in Switzerland and evaluating the potential for similar applications in their own railway systems. This international interest increases expectations that the technology developed by Sun-Ways can make a significant contribution to sustainable energy solutions on a global scale.
Quick and Easy Installation: Special Railway Machine in Action
The specially designed solar panels used in the projects can be installed manually or quickly and efficiently using a special railway machine developed by Swiss railway maintenance specialist Scheuchzer SA. This innovative machine can install solar panels on an impressive area of up to 1.000 square metres per day. This rapid installation capability offers a major advantage in terms of project scalability and expansion.
Switzerland's Railway Potential: A Major Energy Source
According to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Switzerland ranks first in the world in terms of railway density. For a country with a relatively small surface area, this dense railway network represents a significant potential energy production area lying idle. The country has around 5,300 kilometres of railway lines. If all of these lines were covered with solar panels developed by Sun-Ways, it is estimated that up to 1 TWh of electricity could be generated per year. This amount corresponds to around 2 percent of Switzerland’s total electricity needs. This potential could play a significant role in the country’s energy independence and sustainable energy goals.
Warnings Also Come From Experts
On the other hand, a study published by an international research team has analyzed in detail the technical and economic feasibility of installing solar energy systems on or near railway lines. According to the results of the study, such projects, which are often criticized, can be an attractive alternative, both technically and commercially, especially in rural areas. However, experts also warn that potential risks, such as strong mechanical stress during the passage of trains and heavy dirt accumulation on the panel surfaces, could significantly shorten the life of the system. Sun-Ways' pilot project in Switzerland and detailed tests to be carried out over the next three years will provide important data on the extent to which these potential risks can be managed.
