New Delhi, June 9 (IANS). As part of the Defense Ministry’s initiative to maximize utilization of vacant defense land, the Central Government has approved a solar power project in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. This information was given by the Defense Ministry on Tuesday.
The ministry said that a 250 MW solar power project including Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will be established through government company NTPC on about 850 acres of vacant land of the Defense Ministry in Sitapur (former cantonment area) of Uttar Pradesh.
According to the Defense Ministry, this initiative reflects the government’s commitment towards clean energy, sustainable development and reducing dependence on traditional energy sources. Apart from strengthening long-term energy security for the defense forces, the project is expected to significantly reduce the expenditure on procurement of conventional grid power for defense establishments. This will result in savings to the government exchequer during the life of the project.
NTPC Limited is implementing this project through competitive bidding process to ensure most favorable energy pricing and savings for defense establishments. The project will be implemented in better coordination with the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense (Army) and Directorate General of Defense Estates (DGDE). The project is a confluence of national security, energy security, technological innovation and environmental sustainability, highlighting the commitment of the Ministry of Defense to leverage its assets in support of national development goals while protecting strategic interests.
On completion of the project, Sitapur Solar Power Project will emerge as one of the most important renewable energy projects of the country established on defense land and the project is expected to set a benchmark for future solar-cum-storage projects in the defense sector.
For this project, Ministry of Defence, NTPC, Headquarters of Ministry of Defense (Army) and DGDE will work in better coordination to ensure timely implementation of the project.
–IANS
abs
