The Swiss solar technology company ‘Sunways’ is making use of the open spaces between railway tracks to install solar panels. This is a pilot program, and if successful it could ultimately cover many of the railways in Switzerland to help produce clean energy. The electricity produced will be used primarily to boost the network that powers the locomotives. However, it can also be directed into the railway company’s system that powers their infrastructure (switches, signals, stations), or be sent to the local electricity grid for use in homes. “In the long term, our ambition is to produce enough energy between the rails to make our trains practically 100% self-propelled,” explained Sunways’ founder. The panels feature an anti-glare coating for added safety. Cleaning brushes are installed on the trains to remove dust and debris from the solar panels as the trains pass by. The panels are also designed to be removable so that when maintenance or repairs are needed.