Context:

• The 8th session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Key Points:

• Date of Event: 28 to 30 October 2025
• Host Country: India (Current ISA President)
• Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
• Inauguration: By the President of India, Mrs. Droupadi Murmu
• Participation: Representatives from over 120 countries, including more than 40 energy and climate ministers
• Co-Chair: Benoit Faraco, Special Envoy for Climate Negotiations, France
• “One World, One Sun, One Grid” Vision:

The session emphasized advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision aimed at creating interconnected grids for solar energy across the world.

Financing and Investment:

The key discussions focused on achieving the $1 trillion solar investment target and enhancing solar financing, particularly in the Global South (developing countries).

Major Launches and Initiatives:

• Global Capacity Centre (Silicon Valley of Solar): A plan was unveiled to establish a global capacity center for solar energy in India.
• ISA Academy: An Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based online learning platform was launched.
• Africa Solar Facility (ASF): Discussions were held to provide risk guarantees to attract private capital for solar projects in Africa.

Reports and Publications:

Several significant reports were released during the session, including:

• Ease of Doing Solar 2025
• Global Solar Trends and Outlook 2025

Ease of Doing Solar 2025

Purpose of the Report:

• Policy Guidance: The report provides data-driven insights to promote evidence-based policymaking.
• Investment Facilitation: Aims to enable structured cooperation and investment among member countries to accelerate solar adoption.
• Evaluation of Solar Ecosystem: Assesses how easy it is to establish and operate solar energy projects across different countries.

Key Findings:

Significance:

• Leadership of Global South: The report highlights that ISA member countries, especially those from the Global South, are playing a crucial role in driving the global clean energy transition.
• Dominance of Solar Energy: Confirms that solar energy is no longer an emerging technology but a leading and effective force in the global clean energy expansion.

Purpose of the Report:

• Analyzing Transformation: To study the evolution of solar energy from an emerging technology into the primary force driving global clean energy expansion.
• Strategic Insights: Provides critical insights to policymakers, investors, and development partners on the continuously evolving solar energy landscape.

Key Findings and Trends:

• Primary Driver of Clean Energy: Confirms that solar energy has become the most effective and dominant force driving global clean energy growth.
• Investment Dominance: Of the total $725 billion invested in renewable energy last year, solar energy attracted the highest investment of $521 billion, reinforcing its position as a strong pillar of energy transition.
• Rapid Expansion: Installed solar capacity is growing rapidly worldwide. Countries like India have witnessed unprecedented growth (over 39 times increase in solar capacity since 2014).

Financial and Technological Innovations:

• Declining Costs: The cost of solar energy generation ($0.05–$0.07 per kWh) continues to decrease, making it a viable alternative to traditional energy sources.
• Floating Solar: Due to design innovations and reduced costs, floating solar projects (such as the 600 MW project in Omkareshwar, India) are emerging as viable alternatives to land-based systems.
• Technological Development and Capacity Building:

The report emphasizes the need for skill development, certification, and regional cooperation through supporting reports like Solar PV Skills and Jobs in Africa to build a skilled workforce for a clean energy future.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Established: 2015
• Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India
• Launched: 30 November 2015, during COP-21 in Paris
• Founding Countries: India and France
• Objective: To promote solar energy use and reduce dependence on fossil fuels
• Membership: About 125 member and signatory countries
• (Originally focused on “Sunshine Countries” located fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, but after the 2020 amendment to the Framework Agreement, all UN member states are eligible to join ISA.)

Goals and Objectives:

• Mobilize Investment: To mobilize over $1 trillion investment in solar energy by 2030.
• Enhance Capacity: To establish 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity by 2030.
• Reduce Costs: To reduce the cost of solar technologies and financing.
• Ensure Access: To provide clean, reliable, and affordable solar energy to communities.
• Implement OSOWOG: To act as the nodal agency for implementing the “One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)” vision.

India’s Role:

• The ISA initiative is the result of the vision of Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
• India serves as the President of ISA and plays a leading role in advancing global solar cooperation.