<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/linear-pv-world-first-removable-solar-pv-plant-installed-along-railway-tracks/>
"A Switzerland based startup has inaugurated what it says is the world’s first
removable solar power plant on an operational railway line, in a move that it
says has the potential to revolutionise the global rollout of solar PV
capacity.
Sun-Ways – a specialist in “linear photovolaics” – received a permit from
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport (BAV) in October of 2024 to proceed
with the pilot project which would see 100 metres of removable solar PV panels
laid between railway tracks in the country’s west.
The 18kW solar installation consists of 48 solar panels each rated at 385W
each, and feeds power into the local grid. Normal rail operations are expected
to see passenger trains traversing the section of rail beginning this week.
Dubbed ferrovoltaïque – combining ‘ferro’ for the iron railway tracks and
voltaïque (voltaic) for photovoltaics (PV) – Sun-Ways is hoping to target the 1
million kilometres of railway tracks that currently traverse the planet. It
says it is negotiating trials in France, Spain, Romania and South Korea, and
there is potential in Australia, China and the US.
‘By integrating photovoltaics into the railway ecosystem, we can directly power
trains with renewable energy, but also power charging stations for electric
vehicles, while reducing CO₂ emissions and increasing the energy independence
of a country’s entire public transport system,” the company says.
Sun-Ways says it has also developed the mechanism to lay and remove the solar
panels, which are laid between the railway tracks.
It says the solar panels can be laid or removed using a mechanised railway
machine developed by Swiss track maintenance company Scheuchzer which is
capable of rolling out up to 1,000 m² of solar panels per day."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
