Sixth Assembly Of International Solar Alliance:
The Sixth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was convened at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Major Highlights of the Assembly:
- The Assembly discussed the ISA’s broader strategy, emphasizing the need to focus on energy access before transitioning to renewable sources, echoing the organization’s philosophy of “access first and then transition.”
- The assembly announced an increase in Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for projects, raising it from 10% to a range of 10% to 35% to foster greater investments, particularly in African countries.
- Four projects supported by the ISA were inaugurated during the assembly.
- These initiatives spanned across different countries:
- Solarization of the Malawi Parliament
- Solarization of rural healthcare centers in Fiji
- Installation of a solar-powered cold storage in Seychelles
- Solarization of a school in Kiribati
- India reaffirmed the commitment to make solar energy the primary energy source and emphasized that renewable energy could potentially supply 65% of the world’s total electricity by 2030 and decarbonize 90% of the power sector by 2050.
International Solar Alliance:
- The International Solar Alliance is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for bringing energy access, ensuring energy security, and driving energy transition in its member countries.
- Initially conceived as a joint effort by India and France, ISA was conceptualized during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) in 2015.
- With its framework Agreement amended in 2020, all UN member states are eligible to join ISA.
- Currently, 116 countries are signatories, with 94 having completed the necessary ratification to become full members.
