ROME — Italy is considering launching a pilot solar railway project after encouraging early results from Switzerland's first year of operating photovoltaic panels installed between active rail tracks, a development that could expand the use of renewable energy across European rail infrastructure.
Swiss startup Sun-Ways, which developed the technology, said it has signed a collaboration agreement with an Italian partner that is in contact with Italy's national railway infrastructure manager, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), to prepare a pilot installation. Details of the proposed project are expected to be announced in the coming months, according to the company.
The proposed Italian project follows a trial in the Swiss village of Buttes, where 48 specially designed solar panels were installed along a 100-meter section of operational railway. Initially approved as a three-year experiment, the installation has completed its first year of operation without reported disruption to rail services, according to Sun-Ways.
The company said the pilot generated about 16,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity during its first year, despite the panels being mounted flat between the rails rather than at the optimal angle typically used for photovoltaic systems. Sun-Ways estimates that the horizontal configuration reduces electricity production by about 10% compared with ideally inclined panels.
The technology is designed to allow panels to be installed and removed quickly to accommodate railway maintenance while incorporating anti-reflective surfaces and reinforced construction intended to withstand the operating environment. Sun-Ways said brushes mounted on trains help keep the panels clean, and the pilot has not required special maintenance beyond routine operations.
Railway regulators and industry experts have previously raised concerns about the concept, including the potential for glare affecting train drivers, damage caused by vibration, fire risks and maintenance challenges. Sun-Ways says the Swiss trial has so far not experienced such operational problems, although broader deployment would require additional testing and regulatory approval.
Italy has been pursuing broader investments in renewable energy for its railway network. State railway group Ferrovie dello Stato announced plans in late 2024 to invest about 1.3 billion euros in photovoltaic generation capacity aimed at supplying a growing share of the network's electricity demand over the coming decade.
Beyond Italy, Sun-Ways said it has received approval for another solar railway installation in South Korea and is holding discussions with prospective partners in several other countries, including the Netherlands, India, China and Singapore. The company said the Italian pilot remains in the planning stage, with further details expected once discussions with railway authorities are completed.
