A Swiss start-up has launched a pioneering pilot to install removable solar panels directly between active railway tracks, aiming to harness unused rail corridors for clean energy production. Under approval from the Federal Office of Transport, Sun-Ways placed 48 photovoltaic modules along a 100-metre stretch of transN-operated line in Buttes, canton Neuchâtel, this April.
The system was conceived in 2020 by founder Joseph Scuderi while waiting for a train, and represents the world’s first track-mounted, rapid-deployment solar array compatible with ongoing rail operations. The bespoke design allows panels to be swiftly removed to facilitate routine maintenance, with track-work crews able to clear or reinstall up to 1,000 m² of modules within hours. Each 385 W panel feeds generated power into either the railway’s low-voltage network, the regional grid, or directly into traction systems, depending on demand and connectivity.
Early performance metrics indicate the installation could yield up to 16 MWh annually, enough to offset a portion of the line’s energy consumption. Independent safety evaluations addressed initial concerns that rail-mounted panels might compromise track integrity or train clearance. After demonstrating no interference with signalling, switches, or rolling stock, regulators granted conditional approval for a three-year validation period.
Industry observers note similar trials in Germany, Italy and Japan, but highlight Sun-Ways’ removable approach as a unique advancement. Martin Heinrich of the Fraunhofer Institute praised the concept’s potential to “revolutionise photovoltaic energy production by exploiting vast stretches of existing infrastructure”. As nations pursue decarbonisation goals, the Swiss experiment could serve as a scalable model for integrating renewable power into rail networks worldwide.
