Biodiversity & Environment
World Solar Technology Summit
- 09 Sep 2020
- 5 min read
Why in News
Recently, the first-ever World Solar Technology Summit (WSTS) was organised by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Key Points
- Objectives:
- To showcase to member countries the state of the art and next-generation solar technologies worldwide.
- To give an opportunity to decision-makers and stakeholders to meet, and discuss their own priorities and strategic agenda towards a larger integration.
- To discuss the recent highlights of solar technologies, cost-wise, technology-wise, technology transfers, challenges and concerns in the field.
- Steps Taken by India:
- In spite of having one of the lowest per-capita carbon emissions in the world, India has pressed ahead with the deployment of renewable energy at a fast pace for lowering carbon footprints.
- India has enhanced its installed renewable capacity by 2.5 times and increased the solar installed capacity by more than 13 times.
- Globally, India ranks 4th in terms of renewable power.
- India has scaled non-fossil fuel-based power generations to 134GW, which is about 35% of the total power generation and it is expected to increase it to 220 GW by 2022.
- India is providing capacity-building support to ISA member countries through its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.
- Project Preparation Facility has been set up to develop bankable Solar Energy projects in ISA member countries with the help of Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.
- In 2018, India announced about USD 1.4 billion worth of lines of credit (LOCs) for covering 27 solar projects across 15 countries. These projects are in various stages of implementation.
- In spite of having one of the lowest per-capita carbon emissions in the world, India has pressed ahead with the deployment of renewable energy at a fast pace for lowering carbon footprints.
- Solar Energy related Schemes:
- Solar energy has taken a central place in India's National Action Plan on Climate Change with the National Solar Mission as one of the key Missions.
- National Solar Mission (NSM) was launched on 11th January 2010 and is in line with India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
- Its objective is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for solar technology diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.
- One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG): India’s ambitious cross-border power grid plan which seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others.
- KUSUM Scheme: It aims to replace the use of diesel in the farm sector with solar energy with the target of solarisation of 2.8 million irrigation pumps.
- Solar Charkha Mission: It is an enterprise driven scheme and envisages setting up of ‘Solar Charkha Clusters’ which will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries. These solar charkhas are operated using solar power, keeping the environment clean and generating sustainable employment for the artisans.
- 750 megawatt (MW) solar project which has been inaugurated in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
- Solar energy has taken a central place in India's National Action Plan on Climate Change with the National Solar Mission as one of the key Missions.
International Solar Alliance
- It is a treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation which was jointly launched by India and France on 30th November 2015 during the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France.
- It was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.
- Aim: To lower the cost of technology and finance and thereby facilitate deployment of over 1,000 GW of solar energy and mobilize more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030 in member countries.
- Solar energy is a key source of affordable and reliable energy, thus it could play a significant role in achieving the universal energy access goal (SDG 7).
- Headquarter: Gurugram in Haryana, India.
- As of June 2020, the ISA Framework Agreement has been signed by 86 countries, with 68 having also deposited instruments of ratification.
