Ayodhya Shines Bright, NTPC Unveils 14 MW Solar Project

The temple town of Ayodhya is all set to emerge as Uttar Pradesh's maiden solar city with a 40-megawatt (MW) solar plant anticipated to commence operations by March 2024.

As part of this, NTPC Green Energy Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), has commissioned the first part capacity of 14 MW out of 40 MW Ayodhya solar photo-voltaic project.

Full power generation at the solar plant for which the 165 acres of land has been provided by the state government, will begin by 31 March.

In a significant move, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the establishment of this 40 MW solar plant in Ayodhya in August 2023, aligning with the Uttar Pradesh solar power policy-2022.

While the NTPC Green Energy Limited is driving forward with the Rs 160 crore project using its own resources, the state government has incurred Rs 9 crore on transmission of the electricity generated by the solar plant.

Expected to produce 70.08 million units of clean energy annually, this plant will cater to the entire district's electricity needs.

Notably, the NTPC's Ayodhya solar plant has achieved remarkable progress, breaking ground within just two to three months of its commencement, despite the typically longer gestation period of solar projects.

The groundbreaking solar innovation is poised to address the increasing energy demands of the city, especially with the surge in visitors following the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya on 22 January, this year.