International Solar Alliance (ISA) Foundation Day 2026 and India’s Solar Energy Progress

The 10th Foundation Day of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was celebrated on March 11, 2026, in New Delhi. 

• New Initiative: Launch of Green Hydrogen and Storage Start-up Challenge 2026 to support innovation in green hydrogen and energy storage technologies.

About International Solar Alliance

• Establishment: Launched in 2015 by India and France during the COP21 Paris Climate Conference 2015.
• Nature of Organization: A treaty-based intergovernmental organization that promotes cooperation on solar energy.
• Headquarters: Located in Gurugram, Haryana.
• Membership: Over 120 member and signatory countries working together to expand solar energy deployment.
• Main Objective: To promote solar energy adoption and reduce dependence on fossil fuels while supporting sustainable development.
• Focus Areas: 
  • Solar energy deployment
  • Energy access in developing countries
  • Technology transfer and capacity building
  • Mobilising finance for solar projects
• Target Regions: Gives priority to countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Small Island Developing States.
• Strategic Pillars of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
  • Catalytic Finance Hub: Mobilises large-scale investments and financial resources to support solar energy projects.
  • Global Capability Centre and Digitisation: Promotes innovation, digital platforms, knowledge sharing, and capacity building among member countries.
  • Regional and Country-Level Engagement: Encourages partnerships and tailored interventions to meet the specific needs of different regions and countries.
  • Technology Roadmap and Policy: Develops policy frameworks and technology strategies to accelerate the deployment of solar technologies globally.
• “Towards 1000” Strategy:
  • Mission Statement: Ensure that every home, no matter how remote, has access to electricity through solar energy.
  • Investment Target: Mobilise USD 1,000 billion investment in solar energy solutions by 2030.
  • Energy Access Goal: Provide clean energy access to 1,000 million (1 billion) people worldwide.
  • Solar Capacity Expansion: Achieve installation of 1,000 GW of solar power capacity globally.
  • Climate Impact: Help reduce about 1,000 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

Key Initiatives of the International Solar Alliance

• Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C): Establishes centres in member countries to build skills, technology knowledge, and institutional capacity in solar energy.
• ISA Solar Fellowship Programme: Provides fellowships for mid-career professionals from member countries to build expertise in solar policy and project management.
• One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) Initiative: Aims to connect regional electricity grids globally to share renewable energy, especially solar power.
• Global Solar Facility: Designed to mobilise large-scale private and commercial investment for solar projects in developing regions.
• SolarX Startup Challenge: Fosters entrepreneurship to develop scalable solar solutions across ISA Member Countries.

India’s Solar Progress

• Growth in Capacity: India has achieved around 136 GW of installed solar capacity, making it one of the fastest-growing solar markets in the world.
• Share in Renewable Energy: Solar energy now accounts for nearly half of India’s total renewable energy capacity.
• Policy Support: The rapid expansion is driven by government policies, incentives, and renewable energy targets.
• Flagship Schemes Promoting Solar Energy:
• • PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: Promotes rooftop solar installations for households.
  • PM-KUSUM Scheme:  Supports solar-powered irrigation systems for farmers.
• Target for Renewable Energy: India aims to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030

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