Zurich (MNN): Railway tracks are increasingly being used to generate solar power, offering a cost-effective alternative to large-scale solar projects that require agricultural land, deserts, or mountain slopes.
In Switzerland, trains are now running over solar panels in the world’s first pilot project of its kind. Near the village of Buttes, 48 solar panels have been installed between the rails along a 100-metre stretch of active railway track, allowing trains to pass safely over them during normal operations.
The installation, developed by Swiss start-up Sun-Ways, is relatively small but has a generating capacity of 18 kilowatts, producing approximately 16,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to meet the yearly energy needs of several European households.
However, this remains a pilot programme. If the system proves to operate safely and efficiently on busy rail lines, it could provide a new approach to expanding solar energy production without covering farmland, forests, or mountain landscapes with solar panels.
The concept is considered particularly significant in Switzerland, where the need for additional renewable energy sources is growing rapidly.
The Buttes project, launched on 24 April 2025, is also attracting international attention. Sun-Ways has signed a cooperation agreement with French rail operator SNCF, giving the company access to production data, technical findings, and operational feedback from the pilot project. If the trial proves successful, France could soon follow Switzerland’s lead in adopting solar-powered railway infrastructure.
