Switzerland Greenlights Solar Plant on Railway Line

Swiss startup Sun-ways is set to implement a pioneering 18 kW pilot solar system on a railway line in the Neuchâtel canton. This will mark Switzerland's first removable solar power plant along active railway tracks, following approval from the Federal Office of Transport (FOT).

PV system prototype developed by Sunways.

Image: Sunways

The pilot project will cover a 100-meter section of the railway operated by transN, Neuchâtel's public transport company. The installation will include 48 solar panels, each with an output of 380 W, and it will generate electricity that will be fed directly into the local grid. The total cost for the project is estimated at €621,800 ($685,920).

Sun-ways has teamed up with several key partners, including Viteos, a local electricity provider, and DG-Rail, a specialist in railway electrical installations.

Initially, the project faced delays when the FOT denied permission in 2023 due to concerns about the technology’s compatibility with railway safety. However, supported by industrial partners, Sun-ways enlisted experts from the Haute Ecole d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD) to perform an independent evaluation of the system’s prototype. Additionally, Geste Engineering, a leader in large-scale railway infrastructure, conducted safety and technical assessments to prove the system's compliance with safety standards for active railway lines.

Image: Sunways

According to Sun-ways, this innovation addresses growing concerns over solar power installations in sensitive areas, such as the Alps. By utilizing otherwise unused space between the railway tracks, the system doesn’t interfere with train operations, maintenance, or inspections.

Installation can be carried out manually or with the assistance of a specially designed machine, developed by Scheuchzer SA, which can install up to 1,000 square meters of solar panels per day. The system is also fully removable, allowing easy dismantling for railway maintenance.

Image: Sunways

The project has been approved with conditions, including ongoing testing throughout the pilot’s operation to ensure the installation has no negative impacts on the railway infrastructure. Additionally, installation and removal trials will be conducted under the supervision of RM Voie Ferrée, a railway safety and inspection specialist, to confirm that the system can adapt to the line’s maintenance needs without issue.