Image: Andy Aitchison/Riding Sunbeams. Riding Sunbeams has secured a variety of different funding from both the public purse and private investment this year to help fund its work on developing solar-powered railways. Having the government finace – which is designated for supporting innovation – combined with private funding “is excellent”, Riding Sunbeams’ executive director Ollie Pendered told Solar Power Portal, adding that “until we have a route to market with Network Rail, it’s really essential to have received government funding”. Riding Sunbeams is currently working on developing the route to market for solar-powered railways, with the latest government funding to support the 3.75MW Cuckmere Community Solar Farm, "a really important flagship project" due to its role in proving this route to market.