English 
Spanish 
3 min read 
10 comments 
With over 32.000 km of railway tracks, France is betting on the Solveig Project to install solar panels on abandoned tracks, generating clean energy and boosting the target of 1.000 MW by 2030!
You know those miles and miles of railway tracks that are no longer useful? Well, France has decided to fix them – and the solution is one of those that makes you wonder: “Why hasn’t anyone done this before?”
The country is testing a innovative scheme to cover these tracks with solar panels, creating a veritable carpet of clean energy. The Solveig Project was inspired by an idea that is already underway in Switzerland and could be a game changer in the way we use unused spaces to generate sustainable electricity.
But does it really work? And, more importantly, will other countries copy France's idea?
- BNDES and Finep announce R$60 billion for innovation and clean energy until 2026
- Wind energy: Communities demand regulation of wind power
- I-REC Day Brazil: Renewable energy event to begin on 25/03
- City of Pernambuco saves R$1,5 million per year with solar energy and electric cars
The renewable energy dilemma: where to put solar panels?
We always hear about solar and wind energy, but there’s one thing that no one likes to admit: these gigantic projects often have an absurd visual impact. Many people complain that wind turbines ruin the landscape, and that solar panels take up large areas of land that could be used for other purposes.
The French solution was to think outside the box (or rather, outside the rooftops). If there are already abandoned railway tracks, why not use them for something useful? The idea is simple and efficient: instead of leaving these spaces idle, they will be covered with solar panels and will help to supply the country's own railway network.
How does France's Solveig Project work?
The plan is pretty straightforward: attach solar panels to the tracks and store the energy generated in modular containers. This makes everything more practical., as inverters and batteries can be moved to where they are most needed.
In fact, the name Solveig was not chosen by chance – it refers to the idea of a “solar solution” in France. And the idea is already taking shape: the first eight solar panels have been installed at the Achères technical center, where they will be tested for six months to see if the idea really works.
And there's another interesting detail: the installation doesn't require foundations or complex construction. A mechanical arm places the panels on the rails, and they are securely fastened to prevent them from flying away in the wind. But if it ever becomes necessary to remove everything, it can be dismantled quickly without leaving a trace.
The future of solar power on rails in France
If the tests are successful, SNCF plans to expand this technology to the entire railway network in the country. And the numbers are impressive: SNCF alone has more than 32.000 kilometers of tracks in operation. In addition, the idea is to also cover disused railway lines, helping to generate even more energy.
The company has an ambitious goal of installing 1.000 MW of solar panels by 2030, and this innovative system could be the key to getting there.
But France is not alone in this. Switzerland has also started testing this solution and, in addition to the tracks, they are installing solar panels even on the walls of highways! In other words, the movement is already happening and could spread quickly throughout Europe and the world.
Nothing is created, everything is copied.
Excellent attitude in optimizing obsolete space.
How will they deal with theft?
Try it here in our beautiful and wonderful country.