As railroads intersect countries and connect cities, they offer a unique opportunity for energy generation. Vertical bifacial solar systems are well-suited to turn these corridors into high-efficiency, low-footprint power sources—without interfering with train operations or requiring additional land.
Why Railways Are Ideal for Vertical Bifacial PV Infrastructure
Railway networks offer miles of underutilized space that is already cleared, maintained, and graded. Traditional horizontal solar systems struggle to fit into these narrow strips. That’s where Sunzaun’s vertical design excels:
- Small Footprint: Vertical PV (photovoltaic) systems require only a narrow strip of land, making them ideal for trackside positioning in right-of-way areas or even between dual-track corridors (CleanTechnica, 2025).
- Reduced Afternoon Glare: Unlike tilted PV panels, Sunzaun’s vertical installation reduces glare risks, enhancing railway safety compliance.
- Preexisting Infrastructure: Panels can be mounted along existing fences, barriers, or access roads, reducing construction effort and regulatory friction.
- Dual-Sided Generation: Panels absorb direct and reflected light from both sides, increasing energy capture and generation.
- Morning and Evening Peaks: Energy generation aligns with early and late demand periods—often matching train station energy usage (Overeasy.no, 2024).
Integration with Railway Power Systems
- DC Coupling Options: Vertical solar systems can feed into traction substations, minimizing energy losses from AC-DC conversion (Electric & Hybrid Rail Technology, 2024).
- Smart Grid Compatibility: Integration with inverters enables future compatibility with train station microgrids and auxiliary systems.
- Removable and Modular: Sunzaun structures can be installed with temporary or quick-release mounts to allow access for track maintenance, drawing on concepts similar to the Sun-Ways system in Switzerland (Euronews, 2024).
Additional Benefits for Rail Operators
- Security Fencing + Energy: Sunzaun infrastructure can double as secure fencing, used to protect both railroad operations and the public from hazards, reducing material and installation costs.
- Noise Mitigation Potential: Mounted along sound barriers, they attenuate noise pollution, benefiting wildlife and neighboring communities, increasing community acceptance.
- Low Maintenance: Vertical alignment limits soiling from dust and debris stirred up by passing trains (SolarWA.org).
Vertical Bifacial PV can unlock huge potentials for decentralized, cost-effective renewable energy generation without competing for land or disrupting preexisting infrastructure. Railways have the opportunity to not only serve as transportation arteries, but climate-neutral power corridors.
References:
- CleanTechnica (2025): “Three Interesting Ways to Leverage Railways for Solar Power”
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/01/06/three-interesting-ways-leverage-to-railways-for-solar-power/ - Overeasy.no (2024): “Increased Solar Capture Rates from Vertical Bifacial Solar Panels”
https://www.overeasy.no/post/increased-solar-capture-rates-from-vertical-bifacial-solar-panels - ResearchGate (2023): “Modeling of Energy Gain in Bifacial Vertical PV Fences”
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387699162_Modeling_of_energy_gain_in_bifacial_vertical_PV_fences - Electric & Hybrid Rail (2024): “Using Solar Power to Provide Traction Energy”
https://www.electricandhybridrail.com/content/in-depth/using-solar-power-to-provide-traction-energy-for-electrified-trains/ - Euronews (2024): “Solar Panels Could Be Installed in the Spaces Between Railway Tracks”
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/10/14/solar-panels-could-be-installed-in-the-spaces-between-railway-tracks-in-world-first - SolarWA.org (n.d.): “Vertical Bifacial Solar Panels”
https://www.solarwa.org/vertical_bifacial_solar_panels