The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has re-elected India and France as President and Co-President respectively for a two-year term. The announcement came in its third assembly, held virtually. The previous two assemblies took place in India in 2018 and 2019.
Key Outcomes of the Assembly
The Assembly decided to formalize ISA’s involvement with both private and public corporate sectors through the Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action (CSCA). Additionally, it recognized various nations and organizations with solar awards for their contribution.
The Visvesvaraya award, bestowed upon countries who have maximized their floating solar capacity falls into four categories: the Asia Pacific Region, Africa Region, Europe, and others, and the Latin America and Caribbean Region.
Moreover, the Kalpana Chawla award was presented to scientists and engineers with remarkable contributions to solar energy. The Diwakar award acknowledged those institutions that support differently-abled people by maximizing the use of solar energy in their host country.
Report by the World Resources Institute (WRI)
The Assembly was presented with a report drafted by the WRI, outlining fund sources, opportunities, constraints, and ways to augment solar investments. It also highlighted the role of ISA in assisting Member countries. In response, ISA pledged to collaborate with WRI to devise a campaign for mobilizing USD 1 trillion by 2030.
ISA CARES Initiative
The global pandemic prompted ISA to establish ISA CARES, an initiative which focuses on implementing solar energy in the healthcare sector. The aim is to establish solar energy in at least one primary health sector in each district of the target member countries.
Solarising Heating and Cooling Systems
ISA launched its Seventh Programme to address the demand for cooling which surpassed solar deployment in 2017. This programme aims to convert solar radiation directly into energy at higher efficiency levels.
SAARC Development Fund and ISA Technical Assistance
These organizations proposed a joint implementation with the Asian Development Bank. They signed a three-party agreement with the World Bank and the Government of India, which aims to enable energy transition to a low-carbon world through interconnected grids.
India’s Perspective and Contributions
The President of ISA Assembly, who is also India’s Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister, praised the Alliance Members for their collaborative efforts in combating climate change. He also highlighted several activities and programmes initiated by ISA such as the development of a USD 5 billion pipeline, and accumulated demand for over 270,000 solar pumps across 22 countries.
France’s Involvement
France has pledged 1.5 billion Euros to finance solar projects in ISA member states until 2022. The first project under the Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative (SRMI) will commence in Mozambique, thanks to France’s support, alongside that of the European Union. SRMI aims to secure private investment for financing over 10 GWs of solar projects.
About International Solar Alliance
An Indian initiative launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30th November 2015. It consists of 121 solar resource-rich countries and aims to address collective challenges to scaling up solar energy. To date, 87 countries have signed the Framework Agreement of the ISA, and 67 have deposited their instruments of ratification. The most recent country to sign the agreement is Nicaragua. The Indian Government has allocated 5 acres of land to ISA in the National Institute of Solar Energy campus in Gurugram. It has provided Rs. 160 crore for creating a corpus fund, developing infrastructure, and covering the ISA’s day-to-day expenses until the year 2021-22.