Ì첩ÈüʹÙÍø

• Swiss railways are becoming solar grids, producing clean energy from between the tracks.
• A new model for energy use and infrastructure is emerging, with global implications for brands, logistics, and policy.

Across the flat stretch between Neuchâtel and Bern, something unusual hums just beneath the rail lines. Panels shimmer between the tracks, absorbing light where gravel and dust used to settle.

Switzerland has taken a functional space�5,000 km of national railway—and made it work twice. One surface now moves trains and generates power. That’s the proposition being tested by Sun-Ways, a Lausanne-based startup with support from and EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne).

The idea is simple. But the impact is not.

A Track-Based Energy Grid

Sun-Ways� solution involves placing removable photovoltaic panels between existing rails. The panels slide in at night, using modified maintenance trains. There’s no disruption to passenger services. No additional land is needed. No new grid is required.

Each panel is built to withstand vibration, pressure, and temperature shifts. They’re self-cleaning. Non-slip. Fully retractable during seasonal maintenance or in case of emergency. And they’ve already proven themselves in early deployment.

The first full-length installationâ€�100 metres outside Buttes—generated 10,000 kWh of electricity in under six weeks. That’s enough to power about 35 Ì첩ÈüʹÙÍøs over the same period.

What’s more, EPFL data confirms there was no measurable impact on train performance.

Scale and Projection

If rolled out nationally, Sun-Ways� system could cover up to 5,000 km of rail and generate 1 terawatt-hour of power annually. That’s around 2% of Switzerland’s entire electricity consumption.

For comparison, it would exceed the annual output of one small hydroelectric plant, without any change to terrain, water flow, or elevation.

It’s a model that integrates with what already exists. That’s part of its appeal.

Rail as a Renewable Platform

Infrastructure in Europe is often viewed as fixed, built, and done. But this model reframes the conversation. Surfaces—be they roof, wall, or track—can be repurposed. They can serve multiple functions.

Switzerland isn’t adding new sprawl. It’s upgrading what’s there. For densely networked rail systems, that has potential.

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn is watching. So is the Netherlands� ProRail, which has earmarked Q1 2026 for an initial trial. UK infrastructure firms have contacted Sun-Ways for pilot reviews, according to the company.

The interest is transnational. The applications are urban, suburban, and industrial.

Why This Matters for Everyday Lives

This solar rail initiative doesn’t just power Ì첩ÈüʹÙÍøs—it shifts how people live around infrastructure. For residents along the Neuchâtel-Bern corridor, the first installation powers roughly 35 households with clean energy. That means quieter grids, more local supply, and less reliance on distant generation plants.

In cities where housing borders rail corridors, this model suggests a new kind of neighbourhood utility. It brings renewable energy production closer to where people live and use it. Without building new plants. Without clearing new land.

For commuters, there’s something else: a train network that supports the power they use at Ì첩ÈüʹÙÍø, not just the ride they take to work. It’s a loop of use, powered by the same system that moves the country.

As costs drop and rollout expands, the energy impact could reach towns and villages currently reliant on slower grid upgrades. It also creates more jobs tied to green maintenance—installers, techs, inspectors—along routes that already touch most communities.

So while it starts with panels and power, the ripple is wider. It’s about turning infrastructure into something active. Not just a thing you pass through—but a thing that gives back.

Data-Driven Impact

According to Swiss Federal Railways, over 1,500 km of track receive adequate sunlight to support panel installation year-round. That’s nearly one-third of the entire system.

Sun-Ways projects that if just 20% of that track were solar-active, it would result in annual CO� savings of 50,000 metric tonnes.

The project is currently supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. Government modelling suggests that if panel production stays cost-neutral through scale, energy payback will occur within five years of installation.

That’s a faster return than many rooftop solar arrays in urban Europe.

Supply Chain and Logistics Strategy

For logistics managers and energy officers, this opens new territory.

Solar infrastructure typically focuses on roofs. Or fields. This opens the track. And with it, possibilities:

• Branded partnerships with rail-linked renewables
• Location-based ESG audits for warehouses
• Public messaging tied to local clean energy production

More than 68% of European consumers say they prefer brands that disclose energy sources, according to a Q1 2025 YouGov study. Nearly 40% expect to see energy sourcing mentioned on product packaging within 12 months.

That aligns with broader EU sustainability directives. And it means this isn’t just about energy. It’s about perception. Positioning. Public trust.

Risks and Considerations

The technology is new. And not every track section is viable. Heavy shade, tunnel segments, and switch-intensive yards remain out of reach for now.

But where the light is—this works.

Sun-Ways has filed for patents in multiple EU jurisdictions. Its system is modular, transportable, and adaptable to various gauge formats.

And with the initial trial passing all safety assessments, the next 400 km are already being mapped for rollout.

What to Track in 2025�26

• Expansion into the German and Belgian rail systems
• Cost-per-kWh comparison with rooftop and field solar
• Consumer-facing energy disclosures tied to rail networks
• Regulatory adaptation to define track solar as grid-connected power

These shifts may feel incremental. But across 10,000 km of potential track in Europe, they add up.

In infrastructure, small margins multiplied make new baselines.

Looking Ahead

Clean energy is no longer a fringe commitment—it’s a central part of how nations, communities, and businesses plan their futures. The example from Switzerland offers more than innovation. It shows how the right design, placed in plain sight, can do real work.

This project reframes infrastructure not as something static but as an active participant in daily life. Power need not come from distant places. It can be local, visible, and built into the systems we already use.

For a growing number of cities, clean energy isn’t just about cost or climate—it’s about resilience. About trust in local systems. About knowing where your power comes from and where your support flows.

From the rail corridors of Bern to the edge of London’s tracks, the question isn’t whether this model matters. It’s how quickly others will follow its lead.