This genius Swiss idea could power 300,000 homes with train tracks

Imagine turning train tracks into clean energy factories.

That’s exactly what a Swiss startup is doing, by rolling out solar panels between railway tracks.

Sun-Ways, based in Switzerland, has just launched the world’s first removable solar power plant on an active railway.

This could power hundreds of thousands of homes, using clean energy.

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The pilot project, located in western Switzerland, features 328 feet of solar panels placed directly between the rails.

These 48 panels generate around 18kW of power, and are already feeding clean electricity into the local grid, all while trains continue to chug along overhead.

Electric trains and other rail infrastructure can also be charged directly via the traction network.

And don’t worry about snow, dirt, or thieves.

The panels are fitted with anti-theft markings and require special tools to disassemble, making them a poor target for those looking for a quick buck.

Sun-Ways also developed a cleaning brush system that attaches to the end of trains, giving the panels a scrub as the train passes overhead.

This keeps the panels nice and clean, without needing any mobile cleaners to do the dirty job.

However, a specially designed mechanism developed by Swiss rail maintenance firm Scheuchzr is actually the key to the project’s success.

Its machine can roll out or retrieve up to 500 solar panels per day, without any back-breaking labor.

This makes it easy for rail crews to remove the panels whenever track maintenance is needed, like rail grinding or ballast tamping.

Of course, there are limits to the project.

Snowfall in winter can hamper production, although the same can be said of rooftop solar panels.

Sun-Ways said the energy cost comes in at a competitive $0.12 per kWH, and the company is now eyeing expansion into France, South Korea, Australia, and the US.

If rolled out globally, the startup estimates its tech could generate enough electricity to power 300,000 homes.

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