Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is ramping up its solar ambitions with a sharp push to add 500 gigawatts of solar power by 2030. The state government has formalised partnerships with the Smart Energy Council of Australia and the Hinduja Group to build momentum behind this shift.
The government is placing particular emphasis on turning Bundelkhand, Vindhya and neighbouring regions into solar energy hubs. Officials said these plans are rooted in clear policy moves, not one-off projects.
“The state recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Smart Energy Council of Australia and the Hinduja Group in a significant move. The government has set an ambitious target to generate 500 gigawatts of solar energy by 2030,” the official statement said.
As the state’s solar grid grows, so too will job opportunities in panel manufacturing, maintenance, grid expansion, and installation. To meet the rising need for trained hands, the government has introduced the Solar Mitra Yojana for skilling local youth.
Back in 2017, solar energy generation in Uttar Pradesh stood at just 288 megawatts. Today, according to the government, it has grown tenfold, and the state has set a near-term target of 2,200 MW under its Solar Energy Policy 2022.
“To realise this vision, solar parks will be established across all municipal corporations, solar grids will be installed along expressways and railway tracks, and streetlights will be powered by solar energy. Transmission infrastructure will also be reinforced, with a special emphasis on Bundelkhand,” the statement noted.
Ayodhya is already being developed as a solar city, and a phased plan is in place to expand this model to the remaining 16 municipal corporations and Noida. Among key upcoming projects are solar parks in Jhansi, Jalaun, Chitrakoot, Lalitpur, Kanpur City and Kanpur Dehat.
The Bundelkhand Expressway, the statement added, is expected to become India’s first solar-powered expressway.
To drive uptake among households, the state is also accelerating the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. The target for rooftop solar panel installations in FY 2025-26 has been revised upward to 2.65 lakh units.
BI Bureau
