The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) to develop a 450-500 MW solar park along the Bundelkhand Expressway, with an estimated investment of Rs 1,800 crore. This project is notable as it represents the first initiative of its kind in India, aiming to create a green energy corridor along the 296 km expressway and serve as a model for scalable solar infrastructure in the region.
Following a comprehensive feasibility study, GEAPP identified the potential for solar power installations of up to 450 MW along designated land areas of 15-20 meters on both sides of the expressway. The solar park will utilize approximately 1,700 hectares of available land and operate under a Build-Own-Operate model, with a total project tenure extendable up to 25 years from the start of commercial operations. This approach reflects a commitment to long-term economic and environmental sustainability.
The project will proceed through a single-stage bidding process, where bidders will be evaluated based on their proposed revenue share with UPEIDA. An Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued by UPEIDA on October 8, inviting global bids for the initiative.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to harness the renewable energy potential of India's 6,000 km expressway network, with the Bundelkhand Solar Highway project alone expected to unlock an impressive 10 GW of renewable energy.
