Solar panels on the rails: Italy's innovative energy shift
Greenrail has demonstrated that solar energy can be harnessed not only through photovoltaic panels on rooftops. They have developed panels that can be installed on railway tracks.
The popularity of photovoltaic panels is increasing at a tremendous rate. More and more homes are opting for this method of energy acquisition to save money amidst the constantly rising electricity prices. Interest in "solar panels" is growing not only in Poland but throughout Europe, including in Italy, where Greenrail is developing innovative solutions in the field of rail photovoltaics.
Photovoltaics on tracks
The gramwzielone.pl portal reports that a pilot programme is currently underway on a 1-kilometre section of railway track between Modena and Sassuolo in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. This project is the culmination of work that began in 2018, when the idea of photovoltaic panels on tracks was first introduced.
In collaboration with Politecnico di Milano, the company tested the efficiency of their energy panels over six months. They also examined the impact of climate conditions and train traffic on efficiency. The results were very positive, showing that track-mounted panels can generate about 22 MWh of energy annually per kilometre of track.
The initial track panel project was of a prototype nature, but Greenrail sees it as the start of broader implementation of this technological innovation.
What about pollution from trains?
Concerns about maintaining cleanliness on railway sleepers have been raised, given train waste. However, Greenrail's president, Emanuele Occhipinti, assures that cleaning a railway line with panels takes only a few minutes. This process involves special machines equipped with brushes and water sprayers.
The Italian company highlights the ease of installation and the pace at which its technology can be implemented. Additionally, they use recycled materials to produce the sleepers.
