By A Correspondent

New Delhi: India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the setting up of a 250-MW Solar Power Project with Battery Energy Storage System at Sitapur, an old military cantonment in Uttar Pradesh, on an 850-acre vacant defence land. The project is expected to be a major step towards promoting renewable energy use and ensuring an optimal use of vacant defence land.

The first-of-its-kind project, aimed at enhancing the energy security needs, would be executed by the state-run NTPC Limited, which was selected for implementation of the project through a competitive bidding process, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement on June 9, 2026. The project involved developing a large-scale solar power generation plant with an integrated Battery Energy Storage System on the defence land.

“The initiative reflects the government’s commitment towards clean energy, sustainability, and the reduction of dependence on conventional energy sources, the MoD statement said about the solar power plant. “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,” it said.

The competitive bid process realised the most optimal energy pricing and savings for defence establishments. “The project will be implemented in close coordination with the Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) and Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE),” the defence ministry statement said.

“The project represents a convergence of national security, energy security, technological innovation, and environmental sustainability, highlighting the commitment of the Ministry of Defence to leverage its assets in support of national development goals while safeguarding strategic interests,” it added. The defence ministry institutions involved in the project would work closely with the state-run power company to coordinate and ensure the timely implementation of the project.

“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,” the defence ministry said.

The Indian Army has previously conceived, designed, and executed India’s first Geothermal Net Zero Energy Building at Jhansi, another military cantonment, marking a major milestone in sustainable infrastructure. The facility, opened in July 2025, integrates a 10 kW rooftop solar system with a geothermal network that exchanges heat with stable underground temperatures through vertical closed-loop boreholes, delivering highly efficient heating and cooling tailored to composite climatic conditions. The project showcases the Indian Army’s in-house capability to conceptualise, validate, and deliver high-technology, climate-resilient infrastructure, reflecting professional excellence, innovation, and self-reliance.

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