Solar panels don't have to necessarily contain glass, the solar cells can be coated with anything as long as it's transparent, there are in fact flexible solar panels.

Like why would you ever do that?

My guess is infrastructure, the railway company already owns the land, so there's no upfront land investment.

And maybe they can maybe reuse use of the electric railway infrastructure to wire the panels?

[–] SomeoneSomewhere@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 week ago

And maybe they can maybe reuse use of the electric railway infrastructure to wire the panels?

Way too high voltage to be practical.

[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It's not like shaking is a very novel complication that we have no technological means to counteract.

[–] SomeoneSomewhere@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 week ago

No, but it does mean that basically everything built for standard domestic/commercial use is unsuitable and instead you have to use rail/marine/heavy-industrial grade equipment, and maintain it regularly.