French Railway Tests Solar Panels on Tracks for Sustainable Power Generation
SNCF, the national railway company of France, is exploring the use of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules on railway tracks. The latest container-based solar-plus-storage plant developed by AREP, an SNCF subsidiary, can be placed on the rails and relocated as needed.
Called the Solveig project, the initiative began on January 17 at Achères, a commune in the Yvelines department in north-central France.
Engineers placed eight solar panels at the Achères Technical Center. It will remain in place for six months to evaluate performance and reliability.
System could be deployed on a larger scale
If tests are successful, the system could be deployed on a larger scale across non-operational lines, identified through a solar mapping project led by AREP.
These systems are expected to power localized renewable energy needs, such as maintenance operations.
AREP used a telescopic arm to install the solar panels. This setup secures the panels, preventing wind-related damage while ensuring optimal sun exposure.
Can meet electricity demands of the SNCF network
The Solveig prototype represents a key milestone in SNCF’s ambition to install 1,000 MWp of photovoltaic capacity by 2030. This is part of a broader strategy to meet the electricity demands of the SNCF network, where 80% of national trains already operate on electricity.
AREP Director of Innovation Alistair Lenczner stated that they developed the system for delivering PV panels using ISO containers and also a logistics method for installing them on railway tracks that facilitates the deployment of the panels as well as the reversibility of the installation.
AREP will now explore optimizing the system for higher efficiency and make efforts to reduce its costs. However, no specific timelines have been mentioned for this.
Currently, the solution serves intra-SNCF energy use and local consumption, with studies for broader distribution set to align with market needs. Lenczner said the solution has export potential across Europe and the rest of the world, due to its standardized, container-based design that adapts to logistical constraints, reported PV Magazine.
AREP Group has leveraged its full solar expertise to assist SNCF Group in assessing the solar potential of its 113,800 hectares of land by combining its skills in mapping, data analysis, and modeling.
In October 2024, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport (FOT) also gave a permit to the country’s first removable solar power plant to be deployed on a railway line. It was the first time such a project has been approved in Switzerland, paving the way for innovative solar energy solutions in the country.
The project, being developed by Swiss startup Sun-ways, planned to begin deploying the system in 2025 on a 100-meter linear section of the 221 railway operated by transN, the public transport company of the canton of Neuchâtel.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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