Why in the new?

  • Indian President inaugurated the opening plenary of the Eighth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly in New Delhi, calling upon member countries to link solar energy with job creation, women’s empowerment, rural livelihoods, and digital inclusion.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

  • Launched: In 2015 at COP-21, Paris by India and France.
  • Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India.
  • Aim: Promote the large-scale deployment of solar energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
  • Nature: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization.
  • Membership: Open to all UN member states (initially limited to countries lying between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn).
  • Objective
    • Mobilize over $1 trillion in investments by 2030 for solar energy.
    • Facilitate affordable finance and technology transfer.
    • Reduce cost of solar power generation and applications (agriculture, health, transport).
    • Support countries in meeting their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
  • Initiatives
    • One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG): A global solar power grid initiative for cross-border transfer of renewable energy.
    • STAR-C (Solar Technology and Application Resource Centre): Capacity-building, research, and training hub for member countries.
    • Scaling Solar Applications for Agriculture (SSA): Promotes solar pumps and technologies for irrigation.
    • Affordable Finance at Scale (AFS): Attracts global investment and concessional finance for solar projects.
    • ISA Solar Awards: To recognize innovative solar solutions in member countries.
  • Challenges
    • Unequal capacity and interest among member countries.
    • Financing gaps and high-risk perception in developing nations.
    • Need for technological adaptation to diverse geographic conditions.
    • Coordination difficulties in mega projects like OSOWOG.
  • Significance for India
    • Positions India as a global leader in renewable energy diplomacy.
    • Supports India’s targets of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030.
    • Enhances South-South cooperation and climate leadership.
    • Strengthens India’s role in global climate negotiations.