Removable Solar Panels

Swiss start-up Sun-Ways is pioneering a world-first: removable solar panels installed on railway tracks. This unique system will soon be tested on a 100-meter track section in Neuchâtel, marking the first use of solar technology directly on active train lines. A specially designed train will “roll out” the panels like carpet using a piston mechanism, enabling up to 1,000 m² of solar panels to be installed daily.

In partnership with the Swiss federal tech institute EPFL, Sun-Ways developed this innovative approach to meet essential maintenance needs, allowing panels to be easily removed when required. The energy generated by the panels will feed into the local grid, potentially powering nearby homes. If implemented nationwide, solar panels on Switzerland’s railways could produce up to 1 TWh annually -- roughly 2% of the country’s energy needs.

Sun-Ways envisions scaling this eco-friendly technology to global railway networks, offering a sustainable solution that turns unused rail surfaces into renewable energy sources.