Why in the News?

At the 8th International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly, India has launched four global initiatives viz. Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling, Innovation and Stakeholder Engagement (SUNRISE), One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), Global Capability Centre, and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Procurement Platform.

[1] SUNRISE:

• Overview: Launched by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to promote a circular economy in solar energy, focusing on recycling and sustainable resource use.
• Objective: Aims to recover nickel, cobalt, and lithium from retired solar panels, batteries, and components, reducing e-waste and enhancing material efficiency.
• Global Collaboration: Connects governments, industries, innovators, and recyclers to formulate international standards and best practices for solar waste management.
• Sustainability Focus: Seeks to make solar power deployment resource-efficient, low-carbon, and environmentally responsible.
• Economic Impact: Promotes green job creation, industrial diversification, and innovation in clean-energy recycling technologies.

[2] OSOWOG (One Sun One World One Grid):

• Overview: A flagship ISA initiative for transnational solar power connectivity, enabling global energy interdependence through solar grid linkages.
• Goal: Integrate regional grids across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe to ensure continuous, 24-hour renewable power supply.
• Benefits: Promotes clean energy trade, enhances grid stability, and lowers renewable power costs through shared transmission infrastructure.
• Implementation Strategy: Focuses on regulatory harmonisation, cross-border coordination, and interregional feasibility studies for integrated grid operations.
• Strategic Role: Strengthens India’s leadership in global renewable energy diplomacy and sustainable development cooperation.

[3] Global Capability Centre (GCC) and ISA Academy:

• Vision: Conceived as a “Silicon Valley for Solar”, integrating research, innovation, digital learning, and global capacity-building.
• Operational Model: Functions through STAR-C centres (Solar Technology Application Resource Centres) established across ISA member countries.
• Training and Learning: The ISA Academy delivers AI-enabled courses in solar finance, engineering, policy, and project management.
• Capacity Building: Strengthens human capital, fosters technological excellence, and promotes industrial collaboration for scalable solar growth.

[4] SIDS Procurement Platform

• Partnership: A joint mechanism between the ISA and World Bank designed for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Coverage: Involves 16 island nations across the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Ocean regions.
• Mechanism: Facilitates bulk procurement, shared financing, and aggregated demand to lower solar technology deployment costs.
• Resilience Building: Enhances technical and financial capacity, reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels.
• Climate and Energy Impact: Supports climate adaptation, strengthens energy security, and promotes sustainable island economies through clean energy access.

Back2Basics: International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Objective: To facilitate affordable solar technology, finance mobilization, and policy support to achieve global energy access and climate goals.
• Founded: 2015, jointly by India and France, headquartered in Gurugram (Haryana, India).
• Membership (2025): 98 countries, focused on promoting solar energy deployment in developing and tropical nations.
• Strategic Focus Areas (2025):
  • Catalytic Finance Hub: Mobilising global investments in solar infrastructure.
  • Global Capability Centre: Providing technical training, digital tools, and policy frameworks.
  • Technology Roadmap: Driving innovation in floating solar, AI-based grid management, green hydrogen, and One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) connectivity.
  • Country Engagement: Strengthening regional partnerships for implementation and capacity-building.

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