International solar alliance (ISA)

• In accordance with the Paris declaration, the ISA was found on 30th November 2015.
• It aims to collect more than $1000 billion US by 2030 by implementation of solar energy.
• The alliance was initiated by Priminister Narendra Modi of India and President Francois Hollande of France at UNFCC COP 21, Paris
  
• It is believed to be instrumental in helping countries achieve the objectives of sustainable development goals.

Objectives:

• Develop integrated solar or solar hybrid based cold chain solutions that bring economic value to farmers and producers, and include the post-harvest in-field technologies that can secure an extended shelf-life of perishable items
• Encourage the use of sustainable, low global warming potential solar-based cooling technologies through financing and incentives for small- and medium-sized farms
• Promote applied research and industry engagement to introduce affordable refrigeration solutions for small- and medium-sized producers with special emphasis on post-harvest processing facilities and transportation

One Sun One World One Grid

• According to the draft plan prepared by the ministry of new and renewable energy , the ambitious OSOWOG will connect 140 countries through a common grid that will be used to transfer solar power. 
• The vision behind the OSOWOG mantra is “the Sun never sets” and is a constant at some geographical location, globally, at any given point of time. 
• With India at the fulcrum, the solar spectrum can easily be divided into two broad zones viz. 
  • Far East which would include countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Lao, Cambodia and 
  • Far West which would cover the Middle East and the Africa Region,” MNRE said in the terms of reference in the RfP published to hire consultants for OSOWOG.
• The plan is divided into three phases: 
  • The first phase will connect the Indian grid with the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asian grids to share solar and other renewable energy resources. 
  • The second phase will connect the first phase nations with the African pool of renewable sources. 
  • The third phase will be the concluding step of global interconnection, said MNRE.

 

Some of the most common renewable resources that are gaining popularity are:

1. Solar energy
2. Wind energy
3. Nuclear energy 
4. Bio-flues

• The solar energy rich countries are all located between tropic of cancer and the tropic of caprion. This is the region that receives the most amount of sunlight thought the year.
• The ISA is open to 121 prospective member countries.
• 61 countries have signed the ISA framework agreement withing 2 years from its commencement.
• The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• Bolivia is the last country to join this alliance on  30 Nov 2015 when president visit Bolivia 
• The alliance has partnered with world bank ($100 dollars)

India's Role in the ISA:

•  India initiated the alliance.
• Served as host nation for its second assembly (Oct 2019) where total 81 countries attended and two new countries were signed 1. Eritrea and 2. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  
• The headquarter of ISA is NISE, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
  
• At the World future energy summit (WFES) held in Abu Dhabi in January 2018, The government of India announced the establishment of a $350 million as solar development fund to enable financing of solar project.
• Allotted 5 acres of land and monetary support  of Rs 160/- crore to the ISA
• India will produce 175 GW electricity from renewable sources by 20222, and 10 GW will be from solar energy.
• India renewable energy development agency and solar energy corporation of India announced contribution of US $1 million each to the ISA corpus fund.
• Currently, India is one of the top 5 countries in terms of solar energy capacity as well as total renewable capacity

 

Nicaragua, a Central American country is the 87^th and the latest country to sign the agreement in 2020.

The first two assemblies were held in India in 2018 and 2019 

• Various solar awards were conferred on countries as well as institutions.
  
  • The Visvesvaraya award recognises the countries with a maximum floating solar capacity in each of the four regions of ISA, which are:
    
    • Asia Pacific Region.
    • Africa Region.
    • Europe and others Region.
    • Latin America and Caribbean Region.
  • The Kalpana Chawla award for outstanding contribution of scientists and engineers working in the field of solar energy.
  • The Diwakar award recognises organisations and institutions that have been working for the benefit of differently-abled people and have maximised the use of solar energy in the host country.

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