NTPC Green 250 MW solar-BESS on defence land in 2026

What has been approved in Sitapur

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) has said its wholly owned subsidiary, NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL), will develop a 250 MW solar power project integrated with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. The project will come up on vacant defence land in Sitapur (Ex-Cantonment). Approval has been granted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has described it as its first large-scale renewable energy project to be developed on defence land. The power from the facility is intended for use by defence establishments across Uttar Pradesh.

Why the project is being positioned as a “first”

According to the official statements cited, the Sitapur facility is the first large-scale initiative of its kind that combines solar generation with storage on vacant defence land. The integration of BESS is central to that positioning. Solar projects typically generate only when sunlight is available, but storage can retain surplus generation and supply power when production is low. The MoD has linked this to the need for reliable electricity for critical defence infrastructure. The project is also framed as an attempt to optimise the use of vacant defence land for national development purposes.

Land, location, and scale of development

The project is planned on around 850 acres of vacant defence land in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. The scale makes it notable within the context of defence land use. The MoD said that once completed, it is expected to be among India’s largest renewable energy installations established on defence land. The chosen location, referenced as Sitapur (Ex-Cantonment), indicates the project is being executed within a defence land framework rather than a conventional industrial land bank. NGEL and NTPC REL have positioned the project as a dedicated energy infrastructure for strategic requirements within the state.

Solar plus storage: what is being built

The approved configuration is a 250 MW solar project integrated with a Battery Energy Storage System. In the tendered scope referenced for Sitapur, the BESS is specified as 50 MW/200 MWh. Storage allows electricity generated during the day to be stored and then dispatched later, including at night or during cloudy weather. This is intended to support uninterrupted supply for defence establishments. The project is also being presented as a template for combining renewable generation with firming capability for critical users.

How NTPC will implement the project

The project is to be implemented by state-run NTPC Limited through a competitive bidding process to ensure optimal energy pricing, as per the MoD statement. NGEL has also communicated that the development will be carried out through NTPC REL. The use of competitive bidding is meant to secure better tariffs and maximise savings for defence establishments over the project life. The project is planned to be executed in coordination with the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE). These arrangements underline that land management, user requirements, and execution oversight will involve defence authorities alongside the implementing utility.

Tender and bidding details that are in the public domain

Separate tender information for the Sitapur development indicates NTPC REL has invited bids for an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package for a 250 MW ground-mounted solar project integrated with a 50 MW/200 MWh BESS. The bid submission end date is listed as February 6, 2026, and bids are scheduled to be opened the same day. The e-published date is stated as December 31, 2025. The tender reference number is NRE-CS-5838-004(EPC)-9, and the tender type is described as open or advertised.

EPC scope and performance requirements referenced in the tender

The EPC scope described includes end-to-end work from design and engineering to installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar PV plant, including the supply of solar modules. For the BESS, the contractor’s responsibilities include detailed design, sizing, supply, installation, integration, testing, and commissioning. The tender notes a design life of 25 years for the BESS, considering daily single-cycle operation and capacity degradation as per the bidder’s proposal. Batteries are required to be rated for a minimum of 10,000 operational cycles. The tender also specifies a requirement to guarantee at least 92% dispatchable capacity at the point of interconnection over 15 years, starting with 100% of rated dispatchable capacity in the first year.

Key facts at a glance

Market impact: what changes for defence power procurement

The MoD statement says the project is expected to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources for defence establishments in Uttar Pradesh. It also says the project is expected to lower long-term electricity procurement costs and generate substantial savings over its operational lifespan, though no specific savings figure was provided. The competitive bidding approach is positioned as a mechanism to secure optimal energy pricing. From an operational perspective, the addition of BESS aims to improve reliability by enabling stored power to be used when solar generation is low. The project’s scale on defence land may also influence how similar vacant parcels are evaluated for energy infrastructure.

Analysis: why solar-plus-storage on defence land matters

This approval matters for two clear reasons stated by the authorities. First, it ties renewable generation and storage to energy security needs for critical defence infrastructure, where continuity of supply is a priority. Second, it formally expands the use-case for vacant defence land beyond passive holding, with a development model that is coordinated with the Army’s integrated headquarters and DGDE. The tender requirements also indicate the emphasis on long-term performance, including multi-year dispatchable capacity guarantees and cycle-life thresholds for the batteries. The MoD has said the Sitapur project could serve as a model for future solar and energy storage projects on defence land.

What to watch next

The project’s near-term milestones are linked to the competitive bidding process, with bid submission and opening scheduled for February 6, 2026. Further clarity is expected to emerge through the tender outcome and subsequent award decisions. Execution will then move through design, supply, installation, and commissioning stages under the EPC framework described. The MoD has indicated that once complete, the facility is expected to be among the largest renewable energy installations on defence land in India, setting a benchmark for similar deployments.