Brief Context
Context India launched a set of flagship global initiatives to accelerate the world’s transition to clean, equitable, and circular solar energy systems at the Eighth session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Initiatives Launched The SUNRISE platform: The Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling will connect governments, industries, and innovators to unlock the value embedded in solar waste. By promoting recycling and upcycling, SUNRISE aims to make solar deployment truly sustainable.
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Syllabus: GS3/Environment
Context
- India launched a set of flagship global initiatives to accelerate the world’s transition to clean, equitable, and circular solar energy systems at the Eighth session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Initiatives Launched
- The SUNRISE platform: The Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling will connect governments, industries, and innovators to unlock the value embedded in solar waste.
- By promoting recycling and upcycling, SUNRISE aims to make solar deployment truly sustainable.
- One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): The plan identifies priority links between East Asia-South Asia, South Asia-Middle East, Middle East-Europe, and Europe-Africa, enabling clean energy trade and greater energy resilience over the next decade.
- Global Capability Centre (GCC): GCC is a hub-and-spoke network connecting national research and training institutions under a new Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) model.
- The GCC aims to foster R&D, innovation, and digital capacity-building through the ISA Academy.
- SIDS Procurement Platform: It is jointly developed by the ISA and the World Bank Group.
- The signing reaffirmed the commitment of 16 Member Countries to advancing solar energy deployment through coordinated procurement, digital integration, and capacity-building to enhance energy resilience.
Significance
- The initiatives mark a significant shift for the ISA from advocacy to implementation.
- These initiatives strengthen the Alliance’s mission to make solar energy accessible, affordable, and sustainable across the Global South.
- The latest announcements before COP30 in Brazil, signal India’s intent to position the Global South at the centre of the solar revolution.
- Through these initiatives, ISA is helping nations move from pilots to scale — creating a solar-powered, inclusive, and regenerative future.”
| The International Solar Alliance (ISA) – It is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization, launched in 2015 by India and France at the COP21 summit. – Aim: Promoting solar energy as a sustainable solution for energy access and climate change, with the goal of mobilizing USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030. – Members: ISA now counts 125 Member and Signatory Countries, driving projects on mini-grids, rural electrification, and solar financing. 1. Initially focused on developing countries, the ISA’s Framework Agreement was amended in 2020 to allow all United Nations member states to join. – Headquartered in Gurugram India, the ISA is the first international organization established in the country. |
Outlook for Future Projects of ISA
- Ease of Doing Solar (EODS): It notes that global investments in the energy transition reached USD 2083 billion in 2024, with ISA Member Countries contributing USD 861.2 billion.
- Renewable energy attracted USD 725 billion, of which solar power accounted for USD 521 billion—cementing its position as the dominant driver of the global energy transformation.
- Solar Compass – Special Issue on Integrated PV Applications: It highlights that now is the moment for Global South leadership in solar innovation.
- Nearly 70% of buildings in developing countries are yet to be constructed, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) offers a transformative opportunity to embed solar into future infrastructure.
- Global Floating Solar Framework projects: The global floating solar capacity to expand rapidly over the next decade, with the Asia-Pacific region expected to lead this growth.
- The framework equips countries with the tools to develop strategies tailored to their unique geographies, markets, and social contexts.
- Solar PV Skills and Jobs in Africa projects: The continent’s solar workforce to grow from 226,000 today to 2.5–4.2 million by 2050.
- Technicians will drive this growth, with 1.3 million roles expected, and small-scale systems accounting for 55% of all jobs.
Source: DTE