Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the first large-scale solar power project on defence land at Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. The Defence Ministry said that this is the first-of-its-kind project undertaken by the Ministry, involving the development of a large-scale solar power generation facility with integrated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) support on defence land.

The Ministry said that this 250 Megawatt Solar-BESS project will strengthen the energy security of defence establishments across Uttar Pradesh while generating significant long-term savings in power expenditure. It noted that the initiative will be developed through NTPC under the Ministry’s initiative of optimum utilisation of vacant defence lands. The initiative reflects the government’s commitment towards clean energy, sustainability and the reduction of dependence on conventional energy sources.