Solar Power: Railways
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of installing solar panels in the unused space between train tracks.
Answered by Michael Shanks
Installing solar between train tracks could be a feasible solution, particularly in urban areas where the track is electrified, as there will likely already be an adequately sized grid connection. However, there are some obstacles that may inhibit the deployment of this technology, such as the challenge of grid connections in rural areas, obstruction of track maintenance, and the cost of additional transformers required to convert electricity from solar to useable high voltage DC or AC electricity for trains. Decisions on specific locations of solar deployment ultimately rest with developers.
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