The Solar Hub, the pavilion of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), hosted 48 sessions over the fortnight, including ten SunnysideUp Conversations, 14 sessions led exclusively by ISA, 9 sessions co-hosted by ISA and its partners, and another 15 sessions managed independently by partners of the Alliance. This diverse programme structure highlighted ISA’s collaborative approach to addressing global solar energy challenges through direct initiatives and strategic partnerships. Sessions were co-hosted with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy & the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Environment, India and ADB, CEM-TSSC, CMAI, Confederation of Indian Industries, EY, Fiji Government, Global Solar Council, GWNET, IT Power, IWMI, NRDC, TERI & Becquerel Institute, USAID, and the World Bank.
The second week also witnessed significant launches, announcements and inking of a memorandum of understanding.
On 18 November, a MoU was signed between ISA, represented by Dr Ajay Mathur, Director- General, and Dr Maged Mahmoud, Acting Executive Director of the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE). The collaboration will focus on advancing renewable energy adoption across Arab countries that are RCREEE members, leveraging RCREEE’s expertise in policy development, technical advisory, and green finance. Together, the signatories will work on promoting solar energy policies, co-developing training programmes, addressing energy access challenges in fragile regions, and fostering sustainable, community-driven energy solutions. This partnership marks a new chapter in strengthening global renewable energy initiatives.
With the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as a knowledge partner, ISA released the second edition of the ‘Unleashing the Role of Solar in Advancing Economic, Social, and Environmental Equity’ on 19 November 2024. The report was released by Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, in the presence of Mr Karma Tshering, Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), Government of Nepal.
In his address, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, said, “The global energy landscape as we know is at a critical juncture today requiring urgent transition to renewable energy resources not only as
an environmental imperative but also to address the pressing global challenges of energy security. Transitioning to renewable energy will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also ensure stable, reliable, and affordable energy access for all, resulting in resilient economies capable of thriving in a low-carbon world. Further transition to clean energy will also have significant economic and social benefits; its positive impact on health, education, and livelihoods, particularly in remote regions, cannot be overlooked. Solar power today is one of the most affordable and accessible renewable energy resources. Its versatility, ranging from rooftop installations to large-scale solar parks, allows it to be deployed across diverse geographies and economies, benefiting both urban and rural communities.”
The report spotlights solar energy’s transformative potential, presenting a roadmap to achieve a dramatic 20-fold increase in global solar capacity by 2050. Through three scenarios—Slow Transition, Dynamic Transition, and SHINE—the study evaluates solar’s contribution in advancing global net-zero goals, with the SHINE pathway emerging as the most competitive and cost-effective. Key Takeaways from the Report illustrate a positive scenario for the growth of solar promoting- Equitable Access: Solar energy can bridge energy gaps in low-income countries, ensuring access for over 1 billion people globally through a range of grid-connected and decentralised solutions; Economic Growth: By 2050, solar adoption is projected to create over 27 million green jobs globally, with significant opportunities for women and marginalised communities; Environmental Impact: Accelerated solar deployment within the current stated NDC pathways, could reduce global GHG emissions by 25%, aligning with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target; and Cost Efficiency: Solar energy remains the most scalable and cost- effective renewable energy source, with a projected 60% reduction in generation costs by 2050.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched the third edition of the SolarX Startup Challenge for the Latin America and Caribbean region at UNFCCC’s 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to promote entrepreneurship in the solar sector. This pioneering initiative focuses on developing scalable and replicable business models to accelerate global energy transitions, aiming to catalyse entrepreneurship and drive solar deployment to address energy and investment gaps. The third edition of the Challenge will build on the success of the Africa and Asia Pacific (including India) editions hosted in 2022 and 2023, which led to 50 revolutionary solar-powered solutions being brought to the global forefront.
Under the SolarX Startup Challenge, 20 startups from across the Latin America and Caribbean region will be selected, and the winners will receive a USD 300,000 cash grant (USD 15,000 each). This initiative, symbolising a commitment to excellence, provides a transformative platform for entrepreneurial success, innovation, and strategic networking and, above all, provisions the essential funds valuable for scaling up the solutions. Successful entrepreneurs will
undergo an intensive acceleration program and mentorship from seasoned professionals. SolarX winners will be connected with investors and granted access to diverse markets within the Latin America and Caribbean region to foster market penetration and expansion.
H.E. Kerryne Z. James, Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment and Renewable Energy, Grenada, congratulated ISA on the launch of the SolarX Startup Challenge in the Latin America and Caribbean region and said, “There is no better time for such a transformative programme, especially as Brazil prepares to host COP30. This is a crucial moment for young entrepreneurs seeking to expand and invest in renewable energy and the energy transition as a whole. We are aware of the challenges startups face—economic and investment barriers and the lack of regular engagement with investors in this sector due to their geographic location. This initiative creates a much-needed avenue to build an enabling environment that supports the growth and scaling of their startups. It will also help countries and governments like ours navigate the energy transition more effectively. I am particularly pleased that this initiative provides much-needed support for women entrepreneurs, giving them the opportunity to play a larger role in the renewable energy sector. Hats off to ISA for introducing such a transformative opportunity for the Latin America and Caribbean region, and I look forward to seeing its growth and impact in the future.”
The Sunnyside-Up, debuting at the COP29 ISA pavilion, styled as a series of fire-side chats addressed issues in the renewable energy sector, particularly solar, in the broader sustainability spectrum. This week, the series featured Andrew Hobbs, EMEIA Public Policy Leader at EY, on the function that adapting policy frameworks play in driving successful energy transitions; Deepak Ushadevi – Managing Director, Ciel & Terre, discussed the merits of floating solar solutions in advancing clean energy; Dr Augustine B. Njamnshi, Chair of Political and Technical Affairs, Climate Justice Alliance and Dr Cosmas Mwikirize, Superintendent, Industrial Value Chains Development, STI-S-Office of the President, Uganda explored how solar energy is the cornerstone for achieving sustainable energy access and security; and Amitabh Shah, Founder & Chief Inspiration Officer, YUVA Unstoppable on the part played by solar in boosting education at the grassroots. A total of ten conversation sessions were hosted over the two weeks.
A total of 21 sessions were hosted in the second week, addressing a host of issues: investments, floating solar, youth as ambassadors of change, solar clean cooking, solarising transport for sustainable tourism and mobility, the envisioning of super grids, the function of women and global press in ushering a solar revolution, energy-water nexus, PV waste management challenges and opportunities, and scaling solar thermal heating and cooling.
The week opened with discussions on ISA’s Global Solar Facility (GSF) and its dynamics in enabling solar investments in underserved markets. The session explored innovative financing mechanisms and sustainable strategies for scaling solar energy globally.
Addressing the session titled, ‘Agrivoltaics and Sector Coupling Innovations: Scaling for Food and Energy Security.’ Chief Adebayo A. Adelabu, Hon’ble Minister, Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria, said, “It is imperative to optimise land use through agrivoltaic as it plays a pivotal role in enhancing food security and energy access. Suppose we can simultaneously install solar farms on our farmlands without compromising agricultural production. In that case, it’s possible to utilise the solar energy from the farms to power irrigation systems to further enhance production and do post-harvest processing of agricultural products. It should be the commitment of all well-meaning governments to develop and implement strong policy frameworks and incentives to encourage investment in any activity that engenders a sustainable future, such as agrivoltaic. Therefore, I wish to urge all of us here to participate in this session, share knowledge, and learn lessons that will lead to introducing the needed policy and regulatory support to create the enabling environment for these innovations to deliver a more sustainable future for us all.”
The session, ‘Including the International Press in the Solar Revolution,’ at COP29 in Baku, was an engaging discussion. It brought together global journalists to explore the media’s engagement in ensuring the public understands the urgency of climate action, breaking down complex topics like solar technology and emissions targets, highlighting responsibility for climate-related actions or inaction, and amplifying success stories to inspire replication. Highlighting the unique challenges journalists face when covering the energy transition story. A variety of aspects were pinpointed. For example, limited resources and lack of technical understanding hinder environmental reporting, limited specialisation, misinformation and restricted access, and preference for political news over ecological headlines.
The session on ‘Women in Energy: Empowering Change and Driving Innovation’ made a robust call to action for collaborative efforts to advance women-led renewable energy solutions and leadership positions. The session proceedings spotlighted ISA’s ‘Solar for She’ programme, a Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) initiative that aims to enhance women’s access to energy and incomes through solar solutions, thus creating impact across multiple Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 5 (gender equality); SDG 7 (energy access), SDG 13 (climate change) and others, such as SDG 1 (poverty), SDG 3 (well-being), SDG 4 (education), SDG 6 (water & sanitation).
‘Solarising Communities through Women-led Climate Action: Strengthening Adaptation, Unlocking Finance, and Creating Jobs.’ This session, co-hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India, with support from NRDC and ISA, brought together thought leaders to showcase innovative, women-led, clean energy models that strengthen community resilience. Discussions emphasised gender-balanced approaches in policies and programmes through collaboration, capacity building, and financial support.
Elaborating on the country-specific interventions and clean energy models, Ms Suman Chandra, Director, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India, remarked, “To energise the pivotal role of women in the renewable energy value chain and how this increased participation can contribute to long-term energy security and climate goals of India with access to the right mix of policy support, finance and technology support women are central to advancing the clean energy goals not only in India but around the globe. We all agree that in terms of policy, women-centric policies and implementation frameworks can unleash positive changes across aspects of women’s lives, energy access, better health, resource governance, and community resilience. We have seen that from examples in India, whether it is PM Kusum or Haryali Gram Yojana (advancing clean energy access and environment friendly solutions), which the Natural Resources Defense Council ran themselves.” Highlighting the technological interventions, she added, “On the technology front, we are promoting women-led climate-friendly and Clean Energy Solutions including decentralised and distributed renewable energy, especially in the rural areas. These will be important contributors in building resilience for communities, ensuring availability of quality and reliable power for empowering women and walking the talk on climate justice and equity.”
The Fiji government-led session on ‘Energy-Water Nexus: Energizing Water Supply in Rural and Maritime Communities’ delved into the involvement of solar-powered water treatment systems in providing clean drinking water to rural and maritime communities. Discussions focused on the enablers and barriers, focusing on the Pacific Islands and shared strategies to overcome capacity constraints and foster resilience. Addressing the session, Hon. Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Minister for the Ministry of Public Works and Meteorological Services, Fiji, stated, “Energy water nexus is a challenge, quite interesting, in Pacific islands how do we merge these two and ensure that the synergy between them allows us to access development. I think that’s quite a challenge because we know the difficulties of water in our islands and the challenges we face in terms of extreme climate events. We’ve been having an increased number of cyclones, and it is not only related to our daily needs but also times of disasters. When I talk about disasters, is not only the disasters related to the occasional ones we face but also the daily disasters
because of course, in society, some have access to water. Some don’t, but the question for political leaders is how do we solve that? So in Fiji, we have a national energy policy, the Water Strategy 2050, which will cost close to or more than 11 billion Fijian dollars. So, the question is not only for us but also for the other Pacific Islanders, and I suppose every other developing country: how do we access finance which is not only about adaptation but also about resilience and I suppose that’s the challenge we face here at COP.”
Reflecting on the activities and sessions of the past two weeks, Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, ISA, noted, “The ISA Pavilion, Solar Hub, acted as a collaborative space – a hub for everything solar—technology, markets, investments, solutions and pro-solar action. Countries, companies, and consortiums shared this platform with ISA and showcased plans, priorities, actions, and achievements, all of which hold the promise to break new ground in easing solar deployment globally.”
About the International Solar Alliance
The International Solar Alliance is a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France at the COP21 in Paris, with 120 Member and Signatory countries. It works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promote solar power as a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral future. ISA’s mission is to unlock US$1 trillion of investments in solar by 2030 while reducing the cost of the technology and its financing. It promotes the use of solar energy in the agriculture, health, transport, and power generation sectors.
ISA Member Countries are driving change by enacting policies and regulations, sharing best practices, agreeing on common standards, and mobilising investments. Through this work, ISA has identified, designed and tested new business models for solar projects; supported governments to make their energy legislation and policies solar-friendly through Ease of Doing Solar analytics and advisory; pooled demand for solar technology from different countries; and drove down costs; improved access to finance by reducing the risks and making the sector more attractive to private investment; increased access to solar training, data and insights for solar engineers and energy policymakers. With advocacy for solar-powered solutions, ISA aims to transform lives, bring clean, reliable, and affordable energy to communities worldwide, fuel sustainable growth, and improve quality of life.
With the signing and ratification of the ISA Framework Agreement by 15 countries on 6 December 2017, ISA became the first international intergovernmental organisation to be headquartered in India. ISA is partnering with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development financial institutions (DFIs), private and public sector organisations, civil society, and other international institutions to deploy cost-effective and transformational solutions through solar energy, especially in the least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
