International Solar Alliance
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a prominent treaty-based intergovernmental organization dedicated to advancing solar power adoption for a carbon-neutral future.
- Launch: It was jointly launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on November 30, 2015.
- Location: It was conceptualized on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.
- Guiding Vision: The alliance operates under the overarching Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The world is one family) and the vision of “One Sun, One World, One Grid” (OSOWOG), which aims to interconnect solar energy grids across different countries and continents.
Headquarters and Membership
The mission was designed to be implemented in three distinct phases (Phase I: 2010–2013, Phase II: 2013–2017, and Phase III: 2017–2022). The capacity targets underwent a massive historic shift midway through the mission:
- The Original Target (2010): Initially, the mission set a target of deploying 20 Gigawatts (GW) of grid-connected solar power by the year 2022.
- The Revised Target (2015): Recognizing the massive geographical potential of the country and the rapid global drop in solar technology costs, the Government of India drastically revised the target in 2015. The new objective was scaled up five times, aiming to achieve 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022.
Core Objectives: The "Towards 1000" Strategy
The primary objective of the ISA is to address the major obstacles to the massive deployment of solar energy, primarily regarding technology, finance, and capacity. To achieve this, the ISA is guided by its ambitious “Towards 1000” Strategy by the year 2030:
- Investment: Mobilize USD 1,000 billion (1 Trillion) of investments in solar energy solutions.
- Capacity: Result in the installation of 1,000 GW of global solar energy capacity.
- Access: Deliver clean energy access to 1,000 million (1 billion) people.
- Environment: Mitigate global carbon emissions to the tune of 1,000 million tonnes of annually.
Key Initiatives and Programs under ISA
To support developing nations, specifically Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the ISA runs several vital programs:
- Global Solar Facility: A financial mechanism designed to unlock commercial capital and mitigate investment risks for solar projects in underserved regions (like Africa).
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme: Provides a grant covering 10% to 35% of the total solar project cost to support developing nations in building infrastructure.
- STAR-C Initiative: The Solar Technology and Application Resource Centres aim to build capacity, set standards, and create a highly skilled solar workforce in developing nations.
- Scaling Solar Applications: Implementing practical solutions like solar mini-grids, solar-powered agricultural pumps (similar to India’s PM-KUSUM), and solarizing healthcare centers.
Recent Developments (2025–2026)
- Eighth Session of the ISA Assembly (Oct 2025): Held in New Delhi and addressed for the first time by the President of India, emphasizing that solar development must be inclusive, linking green energy directly to rural livelihoods and women’s leadership.
- 10th Foundation Day (March 2026): To mark a decade of its existence, the ISA recently launched the Green Hydrogen and Storage Start-up Challenge 2026, recognizing that the future of solar energy must be complemented by advanced energy storage and green hydrogen technologies.
