Climate and energy strategies, as well as the electrification of mobility, require the use of renewable energy to produce more electricity. 

Solar photovoltaic energy is the simplest and least problematic to produce, but this market faces 3 problems:

• lack of large areas
• lack of human resources
• top slow development of the market due to the lack of willingness of homeowners

The Solution

The exploitation of the surface between the rails of a railway represents a real opportunity to place large photovoltaic power plants, without visual or environmental impact.

Thus, it becomes possible for energy companies to exploit the unused space between the rails to place solar power plants

The Innovation

The innovation lies in the fact that the installation process is done mechanically with the help of a railway machine, for more speed and profitability. In a reverse process, the PV modules can be removed to allow maintenance work to be carried out on the tracks

Business potential

• World: more than 1 million km railroads.
• Market value: CHF 250 billion
• Production potential of 232 TWh/year.

Europe: more than 260’000 km railroads.
Market value: CHF 62 billion
Production potential of 46 TWh/year.

Switzerland: 5’000 km railroads
Market value: CHF 1 billion
Production potential: 1 TWh/year

SUN WAYS developed a machine with a strategic partner able to install 1000 km2/night