Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a 250 MW solar power project with Battery Energy Storage System at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, marking the first large-scale renewable energy project of its kind on defence land.
The project will be developed on around 850 acres of vacant defence land at Sitapur (Ex-Cantonment), according to a Ministry of Defence statement on Tuesday, 9 June.
The ministry said the project is aimed at strengthening energy security for defence establishments in Uttar Pradesh while promoting clean energy and optimum utilisation of vacant defence land.
The solar project will include integrated Battery Energy Storage System support, making it a solar-plus-storage initiative.
The ministry said it will serve as a benchmark for future renewable energy and energy storage projects on defence land.
NTPC Limited will implement the project through a competitive bidding process to ensure optimal energy pricing and long-term savings for defence establishments.
The project will be implemented in coordination with Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General Defence Estates.
According to the ministry, the project is expected to reduce dependence on conventional grid power and lower power procurement expenditure for defence establishments over its life cycle.
Upon completion, the Sitapur Solar Power Project is expected to become one of the country’s significant renewable energy projects established on defence land.
