News Excerpt:
Spain becomes the 99th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
About the news:
- Spain has now handed over the International Solar Alliance Instrument of Ratification.
- With its 2020 amendment, all member states of the United Nations are now eligible to join due to the ISA being granted observer status.
- At present, 119 countries are signatories to the ISA, of which 99th countries have submitted the necessary instruments of ratification to become full members of the ISA, with Spain being the latest.
About the International Solar Alliance:
- 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.
- It was conceived as a joint effort by India and France in 2015 and aims to contribute to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through the rapid and massive deployment of solar energy.
- It would also help member countries develop low-carbon growth trajectories, with a focus on delivering impact in countries categorized as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
- Being a global platform, ISA’s partnerships with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development financial institutions (DFIs), private and public sector organizations, and civil society for funding.
- Mission: Let us together make the sun brighter
- Vision: Every home no matter how far away, will have a light at home.
- Headquarters: The Headquarters is in India, however, its interim secretariat is set up National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram.
Important Projects of ISA:
- One Sun One Word One Grid
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- The idea for the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative was put forth by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, in October 2018. The initiative aims at connecting energy supply across borders.
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- The vision behind the initiative is the mantra that “the sun never sets”. The OSOWOG initiative aims to connect different regional grids through a common grid that will be used to transfer renewable energy power and, thus, realize the potential of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy.
- ISA Solar Technology and Application Resource Centre (ISTAR C):
