Swiss project proves the viability of solar panels placed in the otherwise unused space between railroad tracks.
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free energy abounds :-)
Imagine if the U.S. spent money on useful things like this instead of missiles and bombs directed at Iran.
Coincidentally, I had nine panels installed on my roof in Northern England in April this year. Since then, those panels have generated over 2000 kWh. These 48 panels, installed for a year longer, have generated 16000 kWh. Even if my panels only double their production in a full year to 4000 kWh they are far more efficient than the Swiss ones. Also, they cost less than £10000, rather than the $704,600 allegedly budgeted for the rail version. What a waste of Swiss money.
Are your panels designed to be moved quickly and put back in place just as quickly? If not, this isn't an apt comparison.
I would agree that removal and replacement would be an essential requirement if all other suitable placements for solar panels had been exhausted and the space between the rails was the last place we could squeeze generation capacity. But that is just not the case. There are far more and better opportunities for solar generation on rooftops and car parks (many of which are also owned or managed by the Swiss railways.
Public transportation and solar?! 🤩
About the costs — this is an R&D pilot, so the cost is for the entire project, not just the panels. Most of the money in the pilot program goes toward proving whether the idea works, and there are many benefits that can come from a pilot even when it fails. It's good to remember the recent success of rooftop solar rests on decades of prototypes and struggles and failures and sometimes success. Failing forward is what we gotta do to advance.
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