UPEIDA and GEAPP Partner to Develop 450-500 MW Solar Park on Bundelkhand Expressway

In a groundbreaking move towards clean energy, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) is partnering with the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) to develop a 450-500 MW solar park along the Bundelkhand Expressway. This is set to be India’s first solar-powered green energy corridor, transforming the 296-kilometer expressway into a model of sustainable infrastructure.

Following an extensive feasibility study, GEAPP has identified up to 450 MW of solar potential on a designated 15-20 meter-wide strip of land on either side of the expressway. The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the project, which is expected to cost ₹1,800 crore. The solar park will operate under a Build-Own-Operate model for 25 years, with global bids invited through a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by UPEIDA on October 8.

“This is an opportunity for global renewable energy innovators to collaborate with us in creating a scalable and economically viable energy solution,” said Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and Chairman of UPEIDA.

In addition to generating clean energy for nearby villages, the project aims to enhance the region’s energy supply and promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption by installing EV charging stations along the expressway. GEAPP Vice President Saurabh Kumar added that the solar highway project could serve as a national benchmark for integrating renewable energy into infrastructure development, with the potential to unlock up to 10 GW from India’s 6,000 km of expressways.

The solar park is expected to create local employment opportunities and contribute significantly to Uttar Pradesh’s green energy ambitions, marking a pivotal step in India’s renewable energy journey