Defence Ministry Approves 250 MW Solar Power Project on Defence Land in UP
New Delhi, June 9 (TNT): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the establishment of a 250 MW Solar Power Project with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh on approximately 850 acres of vacant defence land.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) described the project as the first large-scale solar power generation facility with integrated battery energy storage to be developed on defence land.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening energy security, promoting renewable energy and ensuring optimum utilisation of vacant defence land assets.
Officials said the Ministry of Defence, NTPC, the Army Headquarters and the Directorate General Defence Estates would work closely to ensure timely implementation of the project.
Upon completion, the Sitapur Solar Power Project is expected to become one of the country’s largest renewable energy projects established on defence land and serve as a benchmark for future solar-plus-storage projects in the defence sector.
According to the Ministry, the project will help reduce dependence on conventional energy sources while enhancing long-term energy security for the armed forces.
The solar power facility is also expected to substantially reduce expenditure on procurement of grid power for defence establishments, resulting in significant savings to the government over the project’s life cycle.
State-owned NTPC Limited will implement the project through a competitive bidding process to secure optimal energy pricing and maximise savings for defence installations.
The project will be executed in coordination with the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General Defence Estates.
TNT TS
