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| Solar panel on track |
India’s First Removable Solar Panel System Between Tracks
Overview
Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi, has deployed India’s first removable solar panel system between railway tracks—a pilot project inaugurated on 15 August 2025.
The system spans 70 meters, featuring 28 solar panels with a combined 15 kWp peak capacity.
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Innovative Engineering
Panels are affixed onto concrete sleepers using epoxy adhesive and cushioned with rubber mounting pads to withstand vibrations from passing trains.
Designed for easy removal, the panels can be detached using just four stainless steel Allen bolts—facilitating track maintenance without disrupting operations.
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Performance & Scalability
The current installation achieves a power density of around 220–240 kWp per km and a daily energy density of up to 960 units/km/day.
If this technology is expanded network-wide, it could generate approximately 321,000 kWh per km per year using underutilized space—without necessitating land acquisition.
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Why This Matters
This initiative significantly contributes to Indian Railways' ambition to become net-zero by 2030, enhancing its renewable energy portfolio and sustainability goals.
It complements ongoing solar projects across the railways, such as rooftop installations in the Varanasi division, which by April 2025 had generated 394,000 units of solar energy and achieved savings of about ₹21 lakh.
Critically, by utilizing existing spaces between tracks and ensuring panel removability, the project strikes a balance between energy generation and operational efficiency.
Broader Context
This track-based solar innovation mirrors international experiments—e.g., solar panels on sleepers—though India’s removable design brings a unique advantage in maintenance flexibility.
Traditional solar deployments, while logistically simpler, lack this kind of dual-function design.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi |
| Length | 70 meters |
| Panels | 28 |
| Capacity | 15 kWp |
| Mounting | Epoxy adhesive + rubber pads |
| Removability | Yes — via 4 Allen bolts |
| Power Density | ~220–240 kWp/km |
| Daily Energy Density | ~880–960 units/km/day |
| Annual Estimate (scaled) | ~321,000 kWh/km/year |
| Benefits | No land acquisition, maintenance-friendly, scalable |
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