ISA drafts program for scaling rooftop solar to be launched at RE-INVEST 2017, India

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has drafted one of its first schemes, called ISA Program 4: Scaling Rooftop Solar, which will be launched on December 8 at the 2nd edition of the Global Renewable Energy (RE) Investors Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST 2017), held between December 7-9.

The objective of the program will be to work toward the rapid deployment and scaling up of rooftop solar (both off-grid and grid-connected) in pursuit of the objectives of the Paris Declaration, 2015.

The program is set for five years, from the date of launch through to 2022.

The program will cover all possible rooftop segments: C&I, residential, and others, in 121 prospective ISA member countries, including island states with the support of ISA member countries, partner countries and other countries.

The draft was updated at the occasion of curtain raiser of the RE-INVEST 2017 and ISA foundation ceremony, chaired by Minister of MNRE, RK Singh.

At the occasion, Praveen Kumar, Additional Secretary, MNRE was briefed about the sessions that will be held in the event. On December 7, various Indian states will showcase their policy initiatives. There will also be a special session on how India’s energy basket might look by 2030. The second day will have technical sessions on innovative financing, electric mobility, electricity storage solutions, and hybrid renewables.

RE-INVEST 2017 will also provide a platform for reviewing the commitments made in 2015 by industry, banks, manufacturers etc. Industry and developers had committed for 293 GW of renewables and, against this, 39.3 GW capacity has been commissioned or is under implementation. A further financial pledge of INR 4 trillion ($62 billion) by banks has also been sanctioned.

Political heavyweights
On the sidelines of the RE- INVEST 2017, the Founding Ceremony of the ISA and Solar Summit has been scheduled for December 8 and 9. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of France Emmanuel Macron, and the Secretary General of United Nations, Antonio Guterres, are scheduled to attend the event. All prospective member countries of the ISA are invited to participate.

MNRE has announced that the final day of the event will start with ISA’s Ministerial Plenary followed by a roadmap to achieve ISA’s Vision and Mission, as well as a session on ISA Financing. Thereafter, country sessions with Australia, the U.K., France, the U.S. and Germany have been planned. A Corporate Conclave has also been planned on the final day. This conclave will be attended by CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

French Ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler, said that the ISA has been conceived as an action-oriented organization, and brings together countries with rich solar potential to aggregate demand for solar energy globally, thereby reducing prices, facilitating the deployment of existing solar technologies at scale, and promoting collaborative solar R&D and capacity. “France is committed to supporting India in this endeavor, and French companies are eager to invest in the Indian RE sector,” Ziegler added.

Upendra Tripathy, Interim DG, ISA has stated that the ISA has already begun functioning as a de-facto organization and the ISA Agreement has so far been signed by 41 countries, 11 of which have deposited instruments of ratification. Four more countries have confirmed ratification. Following the deposit and acceptance of the 15th instrument of ratification, the ISA Agreement will come into force and ISA will become a treaty-based organization.