ALDERSHOT, England — The first solar farm to directly power a rail line is scheduled to go on line today in Britain.
About 100 solar panels at the facility near Aldershot in Northeast England will directly power signals and lights on Network Rail’s Wessex line, the Guardian reports. The solar farm will generate 30 kilowatts, and is a demonstration site for a project that Network Rail hopes to spread across its system.
While solar panels are already used in some rail operations, including stations, this is the first time a solar array is bypassing the electric grid to directly power a rail system.
