This is only slightly less stupid than "float-ovoltaics" or "solar freakin' roadways!!!"
this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2025
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Space is at a premium in many parts of Switzerland and a lot of the available land is privately owned. This MIGHT be the easiest way to deploy solar in the specific rail sections being considered and may only generate a small portion of the needed electricity.
So it might be the simplest effective idea for the region.
One of the big positives is that the "mounting frame" is already there and pretty consistent, you don't need to clear land and build things. So they just drive a custom train over that basically clip in removable panels.
What is the upside of building panels into the rail instead of next to it?
So it can be installed by the train.
This way an ‘innovative’ and ‘disruptive’ approach that can be the basis of a startup that can be sold to a bigger company or IPO for a bunch of money, and as a bonus draw clean energy funding away from tried and tested solutions into inefficient gimmicks that in turn keep the gas plants running that much longer.
the article covers that.
I wonder if they could just add a caboose to every train that would clean off the panels as it travels over them.
Especially since train toilets traditionally empty on the tracks... Although they probably no longer do these days.
(also I had to look "caboose" up)
Can confirm they don't do that any more in Switzerland. They separate solids and liquids and have integrated bioreactors to clear the fluids. Only the cleaned liquids get dumped these days, the solids are stored and emptied every few weeks.
The new-ish Bombardier Twindexx Express have an issue with their bioreactors so unfortunately whatever they dump still stinks. The main train company SBB claimed to fix it in Summer 2024, but it was still stinky in Autumn.
We just recently discussed this project:
https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/23083174
https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/23833792
I don't think anything substantial changed since then.
The only real news are that it's been inaugurated. If you want a new picture check here