Sun-Ways has successfully completed the first one-year trial of a solar power plant installed between railway tracks in Switzerland. The 100-meter pilot site in the Buttes region was put into operation in April 2025 and has generated more than 19 MWh of electricity during this period.
More than 11,000 trains passed through the track during the test period, but no problems were reported with either the trains or the solar panels.
The project uses 48 photovoltaic panels installed between the tracks. According to the company's calculations, if the technology is implemented throughout the Swiss railway network, it will be possible to produce about 1 TWh of electricity per year. This volume could meet about 30% of the energy needs of the country's public transport system.
The panels are equipped with a special coating that prevents glare for drivers and additional protection against microcracks. Sun-Ways has also developed a special rail machine that can install 300 panels per hour.
The company plans to commercialize the technology in 2028. In the first stage, it is planned to implement 10-kilometer projects, and to apply this system on 1,000 km of railway lines by 2035 and 10,000 km by 2040. Negotiations are currently underway on cooperation with Italy, SNCF, South Korea, Spain and Portugal.
