19/09/2026
Belgium's Solar Tunnel covers a 3.4-kilometer high-speed rail line roof near Antwerp with 16,000 solar panels, producing 3.3 GWh of clean electricity annually.Project OverviewLocation: High-speed rail line (HSL4) between Antwerp and the Dutch border (near Brasschaat and Schoten).Dimensions: Covers about 50,000 square meters of roof space (roughly eight football fields).Energy Output: Generates 3.3 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity every year.Original Purpose: The tunnel was built to protect the adjacent ancient forest from falling trees and reduce environmental disturbance.Benefits and UsageDirect Power: Feeds energy straight into the railway network to power trains, station heating, lighting, and signalling without routing through the national grid.Capacity: Generates enough annual energy to run about 4,000 train journeys, equal to a full day of total Belgian rail traffic.Emissions Reduction: Cuts carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 2,400 tonnes per year.Land Conservation: Uses previously idle rooftop space, avoiding the need to clear extra land for a dedicated solar farm
