Switzerland has become the first country to install removable solar panels between active railway tracks. The pilot project, led by Swiss start-up Sun-Ways, is currently underway near Buttes, in western Switzerland, and could become a model for clean energy generation in other countries as well.
Unlike previous solar rail projects, Sun-Ways’ system is designed for quick installation and removal, ensuring that train services and essential track maintenance are not disrupted. Backed by the Swiss Agency for Innovation Promotion and several private partners, the project seeks to utilize thousands of kilometers of underused rail space across the country for solar power production.
If scaled nationally, the Sun-Ways system could generate up to 2% of Switzerland’s total electricity output, enough to power approximately 300,000 households. The initiative is aligned with the country’s push toward a zero-emissions future and has already sparked interest from countries including the United States and South Korea, which are exploring similar deployments.
While some energy experts have raised concerns about the long-term efficiency of removable panels, particularly in harsh weather and high-traffic areas, others view the approach as a promising way to repurpose developed environments without disturbing natural landscapes.
As countries around the world search for scalable and sustainable energy solutions, Switzerland’s solar-rail experiment could offer a blueprint for harnessing clean energy from overlooked infrastructure.
Get the latest international news and global stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
