International Solar Alliance Targets USD One Trillion Investments In Solar By 2030

The International Solar Alliance's (ISA) fourth general assembly was held virtually between October 18 and 21, 2021.

A total of 108 countries participated in the assembly, including 74 Member Countries and 34 Observers and Prospective Countries. 23 Partner Organisations and 33 Special Invitee Organisations have also attended.

ISA targets USD one trillion of investment in the solar sector by 2030, which would significantly bring the world closer to the energy transitions needed.

Solar Hydrogen Mission And Battery Waste Management

Two new programmes were launched during the assembly: Management of Solar PV panels and battery usage waste and Solar Hydrogen programme.

The new Hydrogen initiative aims to enable the use of solar electricity to produce hydrogen at a more affordable rate than what is available currently (USD 5 per KG) by bringing it down to USD 2 per KG.

Making hydrogen cost-competitive with natural gas presents significant challenges for both supply and performance. However, bringing down the costs can unlock a cascade of benefits.

The discussions at the assembly highlighted that the MSME clusters can replace diesel gensets with hydrogen, which are viable even at today's solar hydrogen prices. The meetings also focused on how ISA's waste management programme will be pivotal for the growing volume of waste and toxic materials, lack of waste specific legislation, and high cost of waste treatment.

One Sun One World One Grid

An update on the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative was also discussed at the assembly. The concept of a single global grid for solar was first outlined at the First Assembly of the ISA in late 2018.

It envisions building and scaling inter-regional energy grids to share solar energy globally, leveraging the differences of time zones, seasons, resources, and prices between countries and regions.

OSOWOG will also help decarbonise energy production, the largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions today.