Taking Stock of International Solar Alliance

Why in News?

The 7th Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was held in New Delhi from November 3 to 6, 2024.

What are the  initiatives launched in the 7th Session?

• International Solar Alliance – It is a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France at the COP21 summit in Paris.

The founding conference of ISA was held on March 11, 2018, in India marked a significant step in mobilizing international efforts toward solar deployment.

• Objective - To promote solar energy as a sustainable solution for energy access and climate change.
  • Towards 1000 strategy - To unlock US$1 trillion in solar investments by 2030.
  • To provide energy access to 1 billion people and install 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity.

Achieving these targets would significantly mitigate global carbon emissions, reducing 1,000 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

• Approach
  • Analytics &Advocacy
  • Capacity Building
  • Programmatic Support
• Headquarters – New Delhi, India.
  • ISA is the first international organization established in the country.
• Members - 120 signatories, including 102 fully ratified member countries.

Initially focused on developing countries, the ISA's Framework Agreement was amended in 2020 to allow all United Nations member states to join.

• Four Regional Groups
  • Africa
  • Asia and the Pacific
  • Europe and Others
  • Latin America and the Caribbean
• Annual Meet - The Assembly meets annually at the ISA's headquarters to assess the impact of programs and activities.
• ISA & SDG - The ISA aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13).
• Focus of 7th Session - Accelerating solar energy deployment across its Member Countries, particularly in regions with limited energy access.
• Elections
  • Presidency - India
  • Co Presidency – France
  • Vice Presidents
    • Africa region: Ghana and Seychelles
    • Asia and the Pacific region: Australia and Sri Lanka
    • Europe and Others region: Germany and Italy
    • Latin America and the Caribbean region: Grenada and Suriname

The seventh session of the ISA Assembly elected Mr. Ashish Khanna from India as its third Director General.

• 3^rd  edition of the World Solar Report series
  • World Solar Market Report
  • World Investment Report
  • World Technology Report
  • Green Hydrogen Readiness Assessment for African Countries.

What are the significances of ISA ?

• India plays a pivotal role in shaping ISA’s initiatives and fostering international cooperation.
• Multilateralism - ISA reflects India’s commitment to multilateralism.
• Solar Facilitator - ISA help countries overcome financial, technological, regulatory, or other barriers in harnessing solar energy.
• Carbon-neutral future – By reducing carbon emissions and promote sustainable development, it helps India achieve its Panchamrit targets.
• Advancing global solar cooperation - ISA provides policy support, technology capacity building , investment facilitation to  smaller countries.
• Enhancing energy security - By leveraging international cooperation and innovative solutions, the ISA is set to make significant strides toward achieving global climate goals and ensuring energy for all.
• Clean energy transition - Promoting solar energy across sectors such as agriculture, health, transport, and power generation.
• Strategic Tool -  It is an important part of India’s outreach to the Global South, particularly to countries in Africa.

What are the challenges with ISA?

• Slow deployment of solar energy -  Despite 9 years of existence, no ISA-facilitated solar power project has been started operations.

The first ISA project is expected to be in Cuba where auctions have taken place and a developer has been selected to set up a 60 MW plant.

• Entry Barriers - Smaller developing countries, particularly in Africa do not have prior experience of executing large power projects.
• Dominance of China in Solar Products - Over 80 per cent of the solar products manufacturing is concentrated in China, which is seen as another barrier to quick spread of solar energy in smaller markets
• Less investments in Africa - Less than 2 per cent of new additions are happening in Africa, a region that houses about 80 per cent of the nearly 745 million people who still do not have access to electricity.
• Inadequate global participation - ISA is still largely viewed as an Indian initiative and  it is almost entirely funded by India.
• Underutilization - ISA offices have been under-staffed and under-funded, and conflict with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Inadequate Inspiration – Failure to create excitement about solar energy in countries that are in desperate need of access to cheap and reliable energy source.

What lies ahead?

• Rotate the presidency of  ISA among other countries to encourage their participation and contribution.
• Expedite the operation of ISA funded projects to inspire members to take actively participate.

References

1. PIB | India Shines Bright
2. The Indian Express | Taking Stock of ISA