The major players in the renewable energy industry, including Adani-Total Energies, GMR Energy, Reliance and Siemens, are in the race to secure the Uttar Pradesh government’s ambitious project to equip all the highways and expressways in the state with e-charging infrastructure.
As part of promoting green mobility, the Yogi Adityanath government plans to develop e-charging infrastructure on four expressways - Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, Agra-Lucknow and Gorakhpur Link Expressway.
UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the nodal agency designated by the state government, has invited bids from private companies to set up a network of 26 e-charging stations in these projects.
According to a government official, nearly a dozen companies, including Reliance, GMR Energy, Adani-Total Energies, Belectric, Lightzip Technologies, EV Plexus and Siemens, participated in the bidding.
“After the allotment of land, the company will have to start operations within six months. The state government will get 5 per cent of the revenues after five years,” an official source said.
As the state targets to achieve full e-mobility by 2030, the government is taking steps to boost renewable energy generation from solar and encourage people to use green energy products, especially electric vehicles (EVs). It also plans to set up a robust network of e-charging stations at other public places and residential enclaves.
UP has the highest number of registered EVs on its roads, with nearly 25 per cent of the total EVs in the country. The UP EV Manufacturing & Mobility Policy 2022 plans to attract investment, promote sustainable transport and foster an ecosystem for EVs.
With the policy, the state plans to attract an investment of Rs 30,000 crore. It aims at generating 22,000 megawatt of solar energy to meet its green energy commitments and cater to the growing energy demand in UP, which has already touched 30,000 MW.
The state is also in the process of inviting solar energy bids of 7,000 MW. While it will float bids of 4,000 MW in the first phase, another round of 3,000 MW will happen later.
