Sun-Ways, a Swiss startup, has successfully launched the installation of removable solar panels between railway tracks in the canton of Neuchâtel. The pilot project, initiated on April 28, 2025, marks the first such installation globally.
The installation allows trains to pass at speeds of up to 150 km/h. It includes 48 solar panels with a total output of 18 kW, expected to generate approximately 16 MWh of electricity annually, which will be fed into the local grid.
Sun-Ways is also working on similar projects in South Korea, Spain, and Romania, and has held preliminary discussions with potential partners in China and the United States. This innovative approach to utilizing solar energy on railways could significantly contribute to the decarbonization of transport and support sustainable energy systems.