BPCL Inaugurates 71 MWp Solar Power Plant in Prayagraj at IEW

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has inaugurated a 71 MWp DC / 52 MW AC solar power plant in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The project was inaugurated by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri during India Energy Week (IEW).

Senior BPCL officials present at the event included Sanjay Khanna, Director (Refineries) with additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director, Subhankar Sen, Director (Marketing), and D D Sarkar, Chief General Manager (Renewable Energy).

Project Scale and Details

The solar plant spans 210 acres and comprises approximately 1.29 lakh solar modules. It is connected to the grid through a 132 kV transmission line.

The facility is expected to generate 103.61 million units of electricity annually. The renewable power generated will be supplied to BPCL’s refineries located in Mumbai, Bina, and Kochi.

BPCL stated that the Prayagraj solar project will reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 75,150 metric tonnes per year. 

The project forms part of BPCL’s broader strategy to decarbonise its refining operations through direct renewable energy sourcing.

Rising Greener Footprints

Last year, BPCL partnered with Volks Energie to develop India’s first solar power plants integrated with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery energy storage systems for oil and gas pipeline operations. This initiative is planned across 14 strategic locations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and is aimed at ensuring reliable renewable power supply for critical pipeline infrastructure.

Uttar Pradesh’s Expanding Solar Landscape

Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a key contributor to India’s renewable capacity additions in recent years. Of the state’s approximately 3.8 GW of total solar installations, around 2.8 GW has been developed under the ground-mounted solar segment.

The state government has identified the Bundelkhand region as a major hub for future solar development, earmarking around 17,515 acres of land for utility-scale, ground-mounted solar projects.

According to details provided by the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), land parcels have been identified in four districts—Jalaun, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, and Lalitpur—with Lalitpur accounting for the largest share of identified land.