INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: The Sixth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was recently hosted at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

• Around 80 percent of the global population, totaling a staggering 6 billion people, reside in countries that depend on fossil fuel imports. 
• Renewable energy sources have the potential to supply 65 percent of the world's total electricity by 2030 and decarbonise 90 percent of the power sector by 2050.

International Solar Alliance

• About: It is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for bringing energy access, ensuring energy security, and driving energy transition in its member countries.
• Launched: COP21 (2015), the UN climate meeting in Paris
• Headquarter: Gurugram, India
• Vision: Let us together make the sun brighter.
• Mission: Every home no matter how far away, will have a light at home.
• Member Countries: 94 countries

Objective

• Increase worldwide demand to drive down solar energy deployment costs.
• Enhance research and development, focusing on efficient storage systems.
• Advocate for standardised equipment and electricity generation processes.
• Standardisation will lower manufacturing costs for hardware and equipment.