INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE ( ISA)

Topic     Energy infrastructure  

                energy resources and conservation          energy crisis 

Prelims          mains paper GS 3

"Solar energy is the most powerful tool that the world has in its toolkits to combat climate crisis."

International Solar Alliance is an international intergovernmental organization of Solar resources rich countries and was launched in 2015 by the India and France in Paris during the 21st. conference on parties on United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change ( UNFCCC). ISA is unique in its focus on spreading Solar to Emerging economies including small Island states. 

• ISA is a platform for cooperation among government, bilateral, multilateral, industry to increase the use and quality of Solar energy. 
• The head quarter of the Secretariat of ISA is in Gurugram, Haryana. 
• Both India and France are founding member of the alliance.

What is mean by Solar rich countries?

 

All those countries that are present between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are called sun/ Solar rich countries because they receive higher Solar heat annually and posses potential to be rich in Solar energy generation. 

Aims of ISA:

1. To ensure installed capacity of one trillion watts of Solar energy by 2030.
2. To investment one trillion dollars in Solar energy production sector by 2030. 

Important facts:

• Its first general assembly was held in 2018 since it is being held every year
• Solar investment action Agenda report by ISA: Average Solar Photovoltaic investment needs to be doubled to achieve net zero goal by 2050
• Currently, ISA has 100 members 
• In November 2021, The US joined the ISA. And became 101st member of the alliance. 

4rt Assembly of the ISA

 To achieve  US dollar one trillion global Solar investment by 2030 

4rt Assembly of the ISA was held virtually in October 2021 where 106 countries participated in discussion. During the assembly two new programme were launched :

1. Management of Solar PV panels and battery usage waste
2. Solar Hydrogen Programme: it is aimed at enabling the use of Solar electricity to produce Hydrogen at more affordable rate from currently USD 5 per kg to USD2 per kg. Making hydrogen cost competitive with natural gas present major challenge for both supply and performance.

Commitment: Assembly approved a solid action agenda to mobilise USD One trillion in Solar investment by 2030 including Blended Finance Risk Mitigation Facilities.

• Clean and efficient energy investments create new market, offer new business opportunities.
• It fast becoming most cost effective option to generate electricity and to address the needs of a rapidly growing population.
• Solar energy is critical to our collective climate goals.
• solar will catalyse the world's transition to a lowest cost and most economic solution for increasing power generation capacity in country.
• It has potential not less than one billion people out of energy poverty, but only if adequate investment are mobilised and the right policy framework are enacted.
• Solar energy, in particular is now the most viable option to achieve universal access to sustainable energy due to its affordability and amenability.
• it is the most viable option for use to rapidly decarbonise energy sector.
• The ISA can provide 800 million people who lack energy access worldwide.
• Adaption of Solar energy( renewable energy) has gained significant momentum since last decades. 

 What is One Sun One World One Grid ( OSOWOG)?

It is an initiative launched by the India and UK with aim to mobilise global technical, financial and research cooperation for the solar energy production and to deliver the  scale and pace of the clean power transition aim. These efforts will stimulate green investments and create green jobs. It expected to be launched at COP26 by both the country. 

It is a common global framework of cohesion and unity of purpose for countries, actors and stakeholders to develop one grid across world. 

India 

India believes Access to energy must be affordable, reliable clean and sustainable.

vision : " Building India's new Energy Future : Clean, Affordable, Reliable and Sustainable"

• Affordable Energy
• Reliable energy
• Clean Energy
• Sustainable Energy
• India has a target to reach 450 GW of Renewable energy boy by 2030
• Energy Justice is key objective and priority.

India's energy strategy: to achieve 5 trillion economy India has 7 pillar energy strategy 

1. Gas based economy
2. Cleaner use of fossil fuel
3. Achieving renewable energy target 450GW by 2030
4. Greater reliance on domestic to drive biofuels
5. moving into emerging fuels like Hydrogen 
6. Promote digital innovation
7. "Clean and Green Energy Towards Climate Action".

Achievements:

1. India has 154 GW of installed non fossil energy.
2. 67 GW under construction.
3. India non fossil fuel based capacity is on track to surpass the 40% target and the India's NDC.
4. The country's renewable expansion rate, among the world's fastest has installed into 100Gw of installed capacity and is on track to a stated goal of 175 GW.

Issues: 

• India has 85% dependent on the imported oil while the import dependence is about 55% for gas.
• 20% import bill of the country is of these two. Import bill of these items has almost gone up b almost three times in the last quarter. 

India's initiatives:

1. Renewable energy 
2. National Hydrogen mission 
3. Fame 1 and Fame 2
4. Indian railway a net zero carbon emmitor by 2030.

Learn more 》》

COP26 GLASGOW