Written Question·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·UIN 66730
Railway Track: Photovoltaics
Tabled: 10 July 2025
Answered: 18 July 2025
Question
Ben Obese-Jecty
Conservative — Huntingdon
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Sun-Ways project in Switzerland, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using photovoltaic panels between rail tracks for electricity generation.
Answer
Michael ShanksThe Government is committed to working with industry to radically increase our existing solar capacity by 2030 through a variety of methods. Rail track solar could be a feasible solution. However, there are some current obstacles that may inhibit the deployment of this technology in all areas. We will continue to look into these issues with Network Rail to determine what is possible.