New Delhi, January 09, 2023: In a significant move towards a sustainable energy future, Uttar Pradesh is set to invest a staggering INR 1 lakh crore in around 125 clean energy projects. The move aligns with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision to meet 40% of the state's energy needs through solar and alternate sources. With the new Solar Policy and supportive incentives, Uttar Pradesh has already made remarkable progress with more than 7x increase in solar energy generation from 279 MV in 2017 to the current 2152 MW.
As recently revealed by Anupam Shukla, Director of UPNEDA, the state government had secured investment proposals totaling INR 40 lakh crore during the Global Investor Summit in 2023. A substantial portion of this amount is earmarked for solar power and clean energy projects under the "Akshay Urja Scheme”.
The investment pipeline includes Greenko Group’s off-stream close-loop pump storage project in Sonbhadra, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, generating a colossal 3660 MW of electricity at an estimated outlay of INR 17,000 crore. TUSCO Ltd is set to establish a 1000 MW floating solar plant on Matatila Dam in Lalitpur district, amounting to an investment of INR 6500 crore. Other projects adding to this ambitious portfolio include a 1200 MW Solar Power Park in Jalaun district by Bundelkhand Solar Energy Ltd and two off-stream closed-loop pump setups by ACMI Cleantech Solution Private Limited in Prayagraj and Meerganj area.
The state's commitment extends to diverse projects, including the establishment of a 50 MW floating solar plant in Bhakhira Bird Sanctuary in Eastern UP. Furthering this commitment, Uttar Pradesh is actively exploring solarization opportunities for all 1994 cold storages with a total storage capacity of 1.65 crore metric tonnes. Under the Solar City program, a 40 MW solar power plant is taking shape on 165 acres of land in Ayodhya by NTPC, with partial operation already underway and the remainder expected to be operational by March 2024.
Simultaneously, Uttar Pradesh is spearheading a transformative campaign to install solar rooftops on 25,000 households in Varanasi city within just two months. The project involves a subsidy of ₹150 crore from the central government and ₹75 crore from the state government, totaling ₹225 crore. It entails solarizing approximately 250 houses in each of the 100 wards of Varanasi city, with the help of Remote Sensing Application Centre, Lucknow and the involvement of 10 project officers (stationed in Varanasi for two months) and 500 trained 'Suryamitras'.
Beyond Varanasi, the state has four large solar projects, collectively estimated at Rs 35,000 crore, in the pipeline for the initial phases. The Bundelkhand region, contributing nearly 60% of the total solar energy generated in the state, is a focal point for these projects along with Eastern UP.
As Uttar Pradesh accelerates its journey towards a green energy future, the concerted efforts of the government, the diverse portfolio of projects coupled with the significant investment influx, exemplify the state’s determination to be at the forefront of the renewable energy landscape.
