The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly will take place in New Delhi, from November 3 to 6, 2024, under the presidency of the Republic of India and co-presidency of the Republic of France. The event will be hosted at Bharat Mandapam and will witness participation from ministers, mission heads, and senior government officials from 120 Member and Signatory Countries, as well as representatives from prospective countries, partner organisations, the private sector, and other key stakeholders.
A curtain raiser event was held in New Delhi, where representatives from 60 countries participated. Pralhad Joshi, the Hon’ble Minister of New and Renewable Energy and President of the ISA Assembly, addressed the gathering, highlighting the critical role of ISA in global solar cooperation. He emphasised that the organisation now comprises 120 Member and Signatory Countries, showcasing a collective commitment to addressing global energy access challenges and the adverse effects of climate change. Praising the progress of ISA’s Member Countries in solar adoption, he noted that solar energy, which is abundant and available throughout the year in many regions, has the potential to be a game-changer in global climate action. The Minister emphasised the importance of solar energy’s clean, reliable, and free attributes, making it essential for achieving universal energy access. He added that ISA’s efforts focus on expanding solar infrastructure, creating green jobs, supporting livelihoods, and mitigating climate impacts.
Ajay Yadav, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, delivered the opening remarks. He acknowledged the challenges in global solar deployment, such as investments, infrastructure, and indigenisation. He further discussed ISA’s efforts to address these challenges through various programs and collaborations with governments, private enterprises, and international organisations. Highlighting the growth of the ISA, he pointed out that 102 countries have ratified the ISA Framework Agreement, underlining its global influence. ISA’s initiatives aim to accelerate solar adoption, foster innovation, and strengthen capacity-building across Member Countries.
Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of the International Solar Alliance, expressed that the ISA stands at the forefront of global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 7 and 13 on affordable and clean energy and climate action. He described the ISA as a revolutionary movement that harmonises and aggregates demand for solar finance, technologies, innovation, and research and development. Dr. Mathur highlighted the importance of the current session in accelerating actions towards achieving the 2030 Agenda, emphasising that the work of ISA directly supports the Paris Agreement and the broader UN framework for sustainable development. He added that the ISA is actively engaged in helping Member Countries shape policies to attract investments, build a sustainable pipeline of solar projects, and develop skills to support the long-term viability of solar initiatives.
The upcoming Assembly session will focus on strategies to accelerate solar deployment, particularly in regions with limited energy access. Additionally, updates on ISA’s flagship initiatives will be presented, including the SolarX Startup Challenge, STAR-C initiative, and Global Solar Facility. Launched in collaboration with Invest India in 2022 at COP27 in Egypt, the SolarX Startup Challenge supports scalable and replicable solar energy business models across ISA’s Member Countries. The STAR-C initiative, introduced by ISA, UNIDO, and France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, aims to enhance skills, quality infrastructure, and standards for solar products to drive economic growth and job creation. The Global Solar Facility, also launched in 2022, focuses on boosting solar investments in underserved regions, particularly in Africa, using financial tools like the Solar Payment Guarantee Fund and Solar Insurance Fund.
A notable addition to this year’s assembly is the First International Solar Festival, launched in September 2024. This event gathered corporates, academia, youth, community leaders, and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, promoting creativity and international cooperation for a solar-driven future.
On November 5, 2024, a ‘High-Level Conference on New Technologies for Clean Energy Transition’ will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, the Asian Development Bank, and the International Solar Energy Society. This third edition of the conference will bring together ministerial delegations, policymakers, subject matter experts, and industry leaders to inspire real-world change. The conference aims to foster collaboration, spark innovation, and share knowledge to promote solar energy, reduce carbon emissions, expand energy access, and boost economic growth. During the conference, the third edition of ISA’s World Solar Reports on Technology, Finance, and Markets will be released.
The session will conclude on November 6, 2024, with a visit to an agrivoltaic farm site on the outskirts of New Delhi in Najafgarh. The site, maintained by the India Agrivoltaics Alliance in partnership with the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) and other organisations, showcases the integration of agriculture and solar energy generation.
