In a major step towards enhancing energy security, promoting renewable energy and ensuring optimum utilisation of vacant defence land, Defence Minister Mr Rajnath Singh has approved the establishment of a 250 MW Solar Power Project with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, on approximately 850 acres of vacant defence land.

This is the first-of-its-kind project undertaken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), involving the development of a large-scale solar power generation facility with integrated BESS support on defence land.

Besides strengthening long-term energy security for the Defence Forces, the project is expected to substantially reduce expenditure incurred on procurement of conventional grid power for defence establishments, resulting in significant savings to the Government exchequer over the life cycle of the project.

NTPC Limited is implementing the project through a competitive bid process to realise the most optimal energy pricing and savings for defence establishments.

Upon completion, the Sitapur Solar Power Project is expected to emerge as one of the country’s most significant renewable energy projects established on defence land and a benchmark for future solar-plus-storage projects in the defence sector.