The Avernas photovoltaic park covers three hectares and will ultimately consist of at least 3800 solar panels, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

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It is expected that the new solar park will power Belgian trains within a year, according to the Belgian infrastructure management organization, Infrabel.

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Construction has begun at the border of Flanders and Wallonia in Avernas-le-Bauduin, roughly halfway between Leuven (in Dutch-speaking Flanders) and Liège (in French-speaking Wallonia).

The location is strategic, just a few meters from HSL-2, a high-speed line between Leuven and Ans.

This electrified route with standard railway tracks is part of Belgium’s international railway network with connections to Germany and the Netherlands.

It is part of the Brussels-Cologne route, served by ICE trains.

By spring 2025, the park is expected to start producing enough electricity to power trains, and upon full completion, it will generate enough electricity to power 500 trains per week.

Due to its location, the park will provide power not only to national SNCB trains but also to international services.

The new photovoltaic installation also benefits from existing local infrastructure, including a substation and wind farm, which are said to complement the park to ensure a consistent power supply.

The project is likely to cost over $2 million, a sum already invested by Infrabel in combination with government subsidies.

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