Even in a busy railway network, the gaps between the lines allow you to spend most of your time doing nothing towards the sky. So why not make effective use of that space? Swiss startup Sunways is trying to do just that by installing solar panels between train tracks.
Even though the rooftops of many homes and businesses are rocking solar panels and dedicated “farms” are also absorbing solar energy, there is still huge potential for even more harvests.
Sunways aims to harness an estimated 1-TWh of energy potential per year from installing removable photovoltaic panels between 5,000 kilometers of railway tracks in Switzerland. The company says this has the potential to meet the electricity needs of almost a third of the country’s public transport systems, while saving more than 200,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
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Each “full black” panel measures 1 x 1.7 m (3.3 x 5.5 ft) and includes an anti-reflection filter to prevent glare. It is installed as a multi-array format within a frame that houses all components and wiring inside. The current setup is designed to fit a 1.43 m (4.6 ft) track gauge, but it can also be adapted to non-standard installations.
While multi-panel modules can be installed and connected manually by engineers, railway maintenance company Scheitzer SA has developed a machine that can install up to 1,000 square meters of Sunways panel arrays per day.
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The solar power plant is designed to allow railway engineers to temporarily remove panel modules while performing track maintenance work, then replace them once the work is complete. The setup has also been tested for stability with trains passing overhead at up to 150 km/h (93 mph) and can withstand winds of 240 km/h (150 mph).
Since the panels are laid flat, winter snowfall naturally has a negative effect on performance. However, the company told us that cylindrical brushes can be attached to the ends of the trains to combat the inevitable dirt buildup. So it’s not that big of a leap to come up with something similar to removing snow.
The power generated by the system can be used to power nearby infrastructure such as switches, points, and even stations. Of course, the power could be fed into the grid or sent to a “traction energy network that powers the locomotives,” which would eliminate the need for on-ground inverters.
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Although its application to the Federal Office for Transport (FOT) last year was initially rejected, Sunways engaged academics from HEIG-VD (Haute École d’Angenieri and Gestion du Vaud in canton Vaud) to create a custom-built panel prototype. These were added to the technical and safety documentation prepared by Geste Engineering and the plans were resubmitted for approval.
It took 10 months of deliberation, but the FOT has now given the go-ahead for a 2025 pilot on a 100-meter (330-foot) section of the Trans N221 near Bute station in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. Approximately 48 panels will be installed between the rails, giving a capacity of 18 kWp.
The facility will be connected to the local electricity grid by power distribution company Viteus and rail infrastructure company DG Rail, and trains in the pilot project will run at speeds of 70km/h. Installation and removal tests will be carried out during the trial period, as well as further tests and measurements to “ensure that there are no negative impacts on rail infrastructure”.
Sunways, from vision to reality
Sunways also announced that it will undertake a feasibility study on a 1,500 meter (4,921 ft) private road section in Aigle with an installed capacity of 288 kWp.
The company is currently in the early stages of starting a new pilot with SNCF in France, along with other companies in Spain, Romania and South Korea. Discussions with carriers in China, Thailand, Australia and the United States are also in the early stages.
Source: Sunways
