Defence minister Rajnath Singh has approved the establishment of a 250 MW Solar Power Project with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on vacant defence land in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, marking the Ministry of Defence’s first large-scale renewable energy project on defence land.
According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, the project will be developed on around 850 acres of vacant defence land at Sitapur (Ex-Cantonment) and is aimed at strengthening the long-term energy security of defence establishments while promoting clean energy and sustainability.
The Ministry of Defence said the solar-plus-storage project would help reduce dependence on conventional energy sources and generate significant savings in electricity expenditure over its operational life. The initiative is also intended to optimise the use of vacant defence land for national development purposes.
State-run power major NTPC Limited will implement the project through a competitive bidding process to ensure optimal energy pricing and maximise savings for defence establishments. The project will be executed in coordination with the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE).
The ministry described the project as a convergence of national security, energy security, technological innovation and environmental sustainability. It said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to expanding renewable energy infrastructure while supporting the operational requirements of the armed forces.
Officials said the Ministry of Defence, NTPC, the Army headquarters and DGDE would work together to ensure timely implementation of the project.
Once completed, the Sitapur Solar Power Project is expected to become one of India’s largest renewable energy facilities established on defence land and serve as a benchmark for future solar-plus-storage projects in the defence sector.
