The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to install solar power plants along both sides of the 296-km Bundelkhand Expressway. According to the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP)—a global organisation supporting green energy transitions—a study revealed that 450 MW of solar power can be generated by utilising both sides of the highway.
GEAPP has already prepared a detailed project report (DPR), which the state government has approved. “Our study found that 450 MW of solar power can be installed on both sides of the expressway. We presented our findings to the state government, and they have given their approval,” said Saurabh Kumar, Vice-Chairman of GEAPP, in an interview with PTI.
On August 9, Uttar Pradesh’s Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh held discussions with stakeholders and solar energy experts in Lucknow, briefing them on the project’s details. Kumar, a retired IAS officer, added, “We are now assisting UPEIDA (Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority) in the bidding process, and we expect the project to be ready for commissioning within the next 15 months.”
UPEIDA has also requested GEAPP to conduct similar studies for four other expressways in the state. Kumar emphasised that this initiative could serve as a model for future expressways. He estimated the project cost at approximately Rs 1,800 crore, with the electricity produced expected to cost between Rs 4 to Rs 4.50 per unit. He also highlighted that this project could be a pioneering example of efficient land use for energy generation.
The solar plants will be installed in a 15-metre-wide stretch along both sides of the Bundelkhand Expressway, potentially providing electricity for the entire route. The project could also pave the way for setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, addressing a significant barrier to EV adoption—insufficient charging infrastructure.
Kumar noted that this project, the first of its kind in India at this scale, will benefit nearby villages by providing access to clean energy, beautifying the expressway, and generating employment opportunities. When asked about the key challenges in making Uttar Pradesh a renewable energy hub, Kumar pointed out that while arid regions like Bundelkhand offer great potential, land availability remains a concern due to extensive agricultural usage. Identifying small land parcels with maximum energy potential is crucial.
GEAPP, founded by the Rockefeller and IKEA Foundations, along with the Bezos Earth Fund, is an alliance of entrepreneurs, governments, and technology partners focused on aiding developing countries in their green energy transition.