Finding places to deploy new solar panels is often just as challenging as the construction project itself – with productive farmland, open parking lots, and rooftops all offering their own sets of pros and cons, but a recent pilot project suggests that thousands of acres of viable, low-cost land have been hiding in plain sight all along: the space between railroad tracks.

This the new, rail-based solar panel systems can be quickly placed on existing standard rails, sending power either back to the grid or to stations, terminals, or even the train itself as it moves along the track itself. The best part? The PV panels don’t interfere with conventional railway traffic.

It’s worth noting, too, that that added capacity is being installed invisibly, without the need for new land development, real estate purchases, or rooftop engineering and reinforcement. It’s just a better utilization of space that’s already being used for something.

If the concept proves to be scalable and (let’s face it) reasonably affordable, it could complement a growing list of “dual-use” solar sites that generate clean electricity without needing to replace farmland (which it doesn’t), clear forests (which it doesn’t), or cover every rooftop (which it doesn’t need to) in order to keep growing. All we’ll have to do then is ask, “Can this infrastructure do two jobs instead of one?”

In the case of rail, the answer seems to be yes. And, with something like 140,000 miles of active freight track in the US, if only 20% of those miles are suitable for the railway panels, we could be looking at more than 8 GW of installed capacity. (Check that math, tho.) That’s not enough to power Manhattan – but, like, Tulsa? Sure!

Seems like a great use of existing infrastructure to handle two important things at the same time - to deliver freight as well as power generation!