Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 4: As the global community ramps up efforts to combat pollution and embrace clean energy, Switzerland has taken an innovative step by installing solar panels in the space between railway tracks—an initiative that has sparked discussions around its feasibility and implementation in countries like India.

In this context, it’s important to understand how solar energy functions, the benefits and challenges of integrating solar power into railway systems, and the progressive measures India has already taken to harness solar energy in the rail sector.

Harnessing solar energy: A clean and renewable power source

Solar energy is harnessed using photovoltaic (PV) panels made from semiconductors like silicon. When exposed to sunlight, these panels convert solar radiation into electricity—without releasing any harmful emissions. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy is renewable and eco-friendly, causing minimal air, water, or noise pollution. Additionally, solar panels are easy to install and relocate, making them ideal even for household-level energy generation.

Electricity generation and supply in railways

The electricity generated by solar panels can either be fed into the railway’s power grid or used directly for traction and station power needs. This decentralized generation helps reduce dependency on traditional power sources and supports the shift towards a cleaner energy ecosystem.

Switzerland's trailblazing move: Solar panels between tracks

Switzerland, known for its leadership in sustainable practices, has launched a unique pilot project to install solar panels in the space between railway rails. Dubbed the Sun-Ways project, this initiative is being piloted near Buttes railway station in Neuchâtel canton. A total of 48 solar panels have been installed over a 100-meter stretch of track at a cost of around ?6.04 crore.

If expanded to Switzerland’s entire 5,317 km rail network, the system is projected to generate 100 crore kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—around 2% of the nation’s total power consumption or enough to supply power to 3 lakh homes. It could also reduce CO2 emissions by 2 lac tonnes yearly—equivalent to the emissions from 50,000 petrol cars.

Advantages of the Swiss Model

1. Optimal Land Use: Utilizes existing railway land, eliminating the need for additional land acquisition.
2. Scalability: With thousands of kilometers of railway tracks worldwide, there’s immense potential.
3. Environmental impact: Drastically reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Energy Independence: Helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels, especially for developing nations.

Challenges for India in adopting similar models

While promising, implementing solar panels between tracks in India presents unique challenges:

1. Durability: Vibrations from trains may cause cracks in solar panels, affecting efficiency.
2. Maintenance: Despite undercarriage brushes, panels could accumulate dust, debris, and face damage from rain.
3. Cost: The current cost of generating power from 100m of track is high—?6.04 crore—posing affordability concerns.
4. Safety and Theft: Stray animals and theft are significant risks in many Indian regions.
5. Visibility Issues: The reflective surface of panels could impair visibility for train drivers.

India’s bold steps in railway solar initiatives

Despite not adopting the track-level solar panel model yet, India has made major strides in solar adoption across its railway network:

1. Solar-powered railway stations:
As of 2020, over 960 railway stations across India have solar panel installations. Guwahati station in Assam became the country's first fully solar-powered station, with a 700-kW rooftop installation. Bengaluru’s Dandu station aims to meet 72% of its electricity needs via solar power.

2. Solar-supported train coaches:
In 2017, India launched a DEMU train running from Delhi’s Sarai Rohilla to Haryana’s Farukhnagar, equipped with 16 rooftop solar panels across six coaches. The system generates about 17 units of electricity daily—enough to run fans and lights in the coaches—saving 12 cr litres of diesel and preventing 2.7 lakh tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

3. Utilising railway land for solar parks:
Indian Railways aims to install solar plants on 51,000 hectares of vacant land by 2030 to generate 20 GW of power. Under the Bina Solar Power Project in Madhya Pradesh, a 1.7 MW plant supplies electricity directly to the 25kV overhead traction system used to run trains.

Conclusion

While India may not have implemented the Swiss-style solar tracks yet, it is clearly making significant headway in integrating solar power into its vast railway network. With growing technological advancements and infrastructure development, such innovations could eventually become feasible even in India—helping the country power its trains with the sun, one track at a time.