The Swiss startup Sun-Ways has officially launched the world’s first detachable solar power plant built on an active railway line. Located on the railway line stretching from the city of Neuchatel to the Alps, the facility offers a total electricity generation capacity of 18 kW. This development has surprised many.
Solar panels installed on the railway line
The plant consists of 48 385 W solar panels. The electricity generated will be transferred to the public grid approximately 500 meters from the installation point. The project has undergone various safety and compliance tests after receiving approval from the Swiss Federal Office of Transport in October 2024.
The opening ceremony was also attended by senior officials from Belgium, France, Indonesia, Israel and South Korea. These countries plan to implement similar applications in their own railway systems.
The installation of the system is carried out with a special machine designed by Scheuchzer SA. This machine can install panels on an area of approximately 1,000 square meters per day. Switzerland ranks first in Europe in terms of railway density.
The country has a total railway network of 5,300 kilometers. If solar panels are installed on the entire network, it will be possible to produce up to 1 TWh of electricity per year. This amount corresponds to approximately 2 percent of the country’s total electricity needs.
So what do you think about this issue? Do you think a similar application can be implemented in Turkey? You can easily share your views with us in the comments section below.
