Indian Railways has for the first time generated electricity by installing solar panels between railway tracks. The pilot project, executed at the Banaras Locomotive Works in Varanasi, saw 28 panels fitted along a 70-metre stretch, successfully producing 15 kilowatts of power.
Railways described the achievement as “a milestone in the journey towards green and sustainable transport”, highlighting that the panels are removable, durable, and designed without disrupting train movement.
Across India, 2,249 railway stations already produce 309 MW of solar energy, with Rajasthan topping the list with 275 plants. Railways has set an ambitious goal of 20 gigawatts of solar power by 2030, with track-mounted panels emerging as an innovative model to achieve it.
This breakthrough not only strengthens India’s renewable energy drive but also showcases how infrastructure can be transformed into a source of clean, efficient power.
