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The Ministry of Defence has approved the development of a 250 MW solar power project with an integrated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on approximately 850 acres of vacant defence land in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh. Cleared by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the project marks the first solar-plus-storage initiative of its kind undertaken by the ministry. State-owned NTPC will implement the project in coordination with the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General of Defence Estates. The development is aimed at strengthening energy security for defence establishments, increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing reliance on conventional grid power, while ensuring productive utilisation of unused defence land.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the establishment of a 250 MW solar power project integrated with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on defence land in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh, according to an official statement issued in the past week. The project will be developed on around 850 acres of vacant land under the Ministry of Defence and is intended to enhance energy security, expand renewable energy capacity and optimise the use of underutilised defence assets.
The proposed development is the first solar-plus-storage project of its kind to be undertaken by the Ministry of Defence. The initiative forms part of the government's broader efforts to increase the adoption of clean energy solutions, improve sustainability measures and reduce dependence on conventional energy sources across public sector operations.
According to the statement, the project is expected to provide long-term energy benefits to defence establishments while helping lower expenditure on electricity sourced from the conventional power grid. The ministry indicated that reduced reliance on traditional energy supplies could generate substantial savings for the government over the operational life of the project.
The solar facility will incorporate a Battery Energy Storage System, enabling energy generated during peak sunlight hours to be stored and utilised when required. The integration of storage infrastructure is expected to improve the reliability and efficiency of power supply for defence-related installations and operations.
State-owned power producer NTPC has been entrusted with implementing the project. The company will execute the development in coordination with the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE), which oversees the management and utilisation of defence land assets across the country.
The use of approximately 850 acres of vacant defence land for renewable energy generation reflects a growing focus on leveraging government-owned land parcels for infrastructure projects that support national sustainability objectives while delivering operational benefits to strategic institutions.
Upon completion, the Sitapur solar power project is expected to rank among the largest renewable energy developments established on defence land in India. The Ministry of Defence stated that the project could serve as a reference model for future solar-plus-storage developments across the defence sector, supporting wider adoption of renewable energy infrastructure within military establishments and other government-owned land holdings.
The project also aligns with broader national goals of increasing renewable energy capacity and integrating energy storage solutions into the power ecosystem, while strengthening the resilience and energy independence of critical defence infrastructure.
Source - PTI
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