Lucknow, Apr 29 (UNI) In a bid to transform Uttar Pradesh, especially regions like Bundelkhand, Vindhya and adjoining areas, into a hub for solar energy, the state government is moving ahead with policy-driven efforts to accelerate solar power generation, official sources said here on Tuesday.
Sources said that the state which has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Smart Energy Council of Australia and the Hinduja Group in this direction, has set an ambitious target to generate 500 gigawatts (GW) of solar energy by 2030.
Sources said when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assumed office in 2017, the state's solar energy production was just 288 MW. "Today, that figure has increased tenfold and the growth is still ongoing. Under the Solar Energy Policy 2022, a near-term target of 2,200 MW has been set," they said.
Solar parks will be set up across all municipal corporations, solar grids will be installed along expressways and railway tracks and streetlights will be powered by solar energy, said a government official.
"Transmission infrastructure will also be reinforced, with a special emphasis on Bundelkhand," he said.
Sources said that Ayodhya is being developed as a solar city, honouring the legacy of Suryavanshi Lord Shri Ram. "In a phased manner, the remaining 16 municipal corporations and Noida are also being transformed into solar cities," they said.
Key solar parks are planned in Jhansi, Jalaun, Chitrakoot, Lalitpur, Kanpur City and Kanpur Dehat. "The Bundelkhand Expressway is set to become India's first solar expressway, marking a milestone in sustainable infrastructure," government sources said.
They said the government is aggressively promoting rooftop solar installations under PM Surya Ghar Yojana to boost adoption. "The target for rooftop panels in the financial year 2025–26 has been doubled to 2.65 lakh units," they said.
A new policy mandates rooftop solar panels for buildings exceeding 5,000 square meters and approvals will be revoked if this condition is not met. "The target for FY 2026–27 has been raised to 8 lakh rooftop units, with substantial subsidies being offered. Many companies also offer long-term EMIs with zero upfront payment, making solar adoption more accessible," said a government official.
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