21/10/2025
In Switzerland, a groundbreaking fusion of transit and clean energy is unfolding beneath the wheels of city trams. Solar tiles are now being embedded directly into tram tracks, turning once-unused ground into powerful generators for the local energy grid. These robust photovoltaic surfaces are designed to withstand the constant weight and vibration of passing trams — all while harvesting solar power seamlessly, without interrupting the flow of public transport.
Each tile is made from tempered, anti-slip glass layered over high-efficiency solar cells, engineered to endure heavy urban traffic. The tiles are installed flush with the tracks, ensuring no disruption to train movement or pedestrian safety. As trams glide overhead, sensors detect passage and adjust output protocols to maintain stable current flow, contributing clean energy back to the municipal grid in real time.
The system is modular and scalable, allowing sections to be maintained or upgraded without halting transit services. In some cities, this track-based solar system is paired with onboard supercapacitors in the trams — storing bursts of power harvested from the tracks themselves.
By turning the space beneath transit infrastructure into active energy zones, Switzerland is doubling the purpose of its urban footprint. It’s a solution that supports both energy transition and transit efficiency — capturing sunlight where no one thought to look, right under the rails.
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