Ayodhya, the renowned temple town in Uttar Pradesh, is poised to embrace sustainable practices on a grand scale, with a 40 MW solar power initiative expected to be fully operational by March 2024. Spearheaded by the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Department (UPNEDA), the project, situated on 165 acres of land, is developed by NTPC Green Energy, a subsidiary of NTPC.
Ratan Singh, Project Head and Additional General Manager at NTPC Green Energy, indicated that the commissioning process is underway, with 15 MW capacity ready for operation. The endeavor is a key component of the Solar City Program, with Jakson Green securing the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the 40 MW project.
A substantial 104,580 solar panels, supplied by Jakson Group, and inverters from FIMER India, will contribute to the ambitious solar venture. Ayodhya, heralded as Uttar Pradesh's inaugural Solar City, is not only focusing on large-scale solar energy but is also implementing 470 solar streetlights along a 10.2 km stretch, of which 200 are already operational.
This initiative aligns with the Union government's plan to develop 24 towns and cities, including Ayodhya, as solar cities. The Uttar Pradesh government's solar policy for 2022 outlines an ambitious target of achieving 22 GW of installed solar capacity by 2026-27.
Ayodhya's solar endeavors extend beyond the 40 MW project, encompassing a 250 kW rooftop solar project at Ayodhya airport, a 50 kW solar initiative at a cow shelter, and the establishment of solar-powered mobile phone charging points and drinking water kiosks. Jakson Group, responsible for the rooftop solar system at the airport, anticipates full operational readiness by February 1, 2024.
Under the Solar City program, Ayodhya has already seen the installation of 1.07 MW rooftop solar capacity on residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Additionally, solar trees with capacities of 1 kW and 2.5 kW are being strategically placed at 52 locations, including public parks. As of now, 42 sites have solar trees in place, and the remaining installations are slated to be completed well before January 22, coinciding with the consecration of a temple to Hindu God Rama, an event that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend.
