The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has announced the inaugural International Solar Festival, set to take place in New Delhi on September 5-6, 2024. This announcement was made by Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA, at a distinguished gathering attended by prominent figures including Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE); Saina Nehwal, former world number one badminton player, Olympian, and Padma Bhushan awardee; and Arushi Sana, Official Youth Ambassador for COP28 UAE.
The event saw the presence of representatives from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and diplomatic missions of ISA member countries such as the Dominican Republic, Syrian Arab Republic, Argentina, Israel, Uruguay, Denmark, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Republic of Guinea, Republic of Fiji, Bhutan, South Sudan, Spain, Senegal, Cuba, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica. The International Solar Alliance, dedicated to enhancing global energy access and security, promotes solar power as a sustainable path towards a carbon-neutral future.
In his address, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla highlighted India’s role as a global climate leader, advocating for pragmatic, affordable, and sustainable solutions to meet developmental needs. He emphasised the ISA’s efforts to support solar energy adoption in underserved communities worldwide and India’s commitment to the Global South. The upcoming International Solar Festival aims to accelerate the global transition to clean energy, ensuring it is accessible and equitable for all nations through shared knowledge and collective action.
Dr Ajay Mathur emphasised the urgency and opportunity presented by climate action, noting solar energy’s transformative impact on underserved communities by creating jobs, stimulating local economies, fostering innovation, and reducing emissions. The festival will celebrate solar energy’s role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and universal energy access. It aims to drive significant investments and partnerships, unlocking the full potential of solar energy for a sustainable future.
The event was also attended by representatives from multilateral agencies like the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), private sector companies including Accenture and TATA Capital, industry bodies such as the National Solar Energy Federation of India, and climate think-tanks like The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), and the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), among others.
During the event, Dr Mathur, alongside Saina Nehwal and Arushi Sana, unveiled the festival’s logo and a short curtain-raiser film. This was followed by a discussion on the theme “Building a Solar Future Together.” Saina Nehwal highlighted the importance of gender inclusivity and community building in the solar energy transition, emphasising the need to engage and empower women for stronger, more resilient communities. She stressed the significance of making clean energy a topic of conversation among youth to inspire responsible choices for future generations.
Arushi Sana underscored the importance of educating youth on driving the solar energy transition through innovation, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. She expressed the festival’s vision of collaboration and partnership between youth-led initiatives, academia, industry, community, and policy, aiming to co-create a sustainable future benefiting the planet, people, and prosperity.
The International Solar Festival will bring together stakeholders from around the globe, including businesses, academia, youth, and community leaders. The festival will feature keynote sessions by global climate leaders, plenary and technical sessions led by industry experts, a CEO Caucus Roundtable to explore innovative financial and technological solutions, and an Innovation Showcase presenting pioneering solutions and entrepreneurs transforming the energy sector. Exhibition booths, pavilions, and an Activity Zone with cultural performances by renowned artists will also be part of the event. The festival seeks to foster international cooperation, support innovative financing, technology deployment, capacity building, and technical assistance, paving the way for a solar-powered future.
