Maarg Manthan · Topic 20.7

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Environment & Ecology › Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment · Topic 20.7

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based international organisation, co-founded by India and France, that promotes the use of solar energy, particularly in sunshine-rich countries. It was announced by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France at the Paris climate conference, COP21, on 30 November 2015. The ISA Framework Agreement opened for signature at COP22 in Marrakech in November 2016 and entered into force on 6 December 2017 after the required number of ratifications. Its headquarters are in Gurugram, Haryana, on the campus of the National Institute of Solar Energy, making it the first international intergovernmental organisation headquartered in India. Originally, membership was for countries lying fully or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; the Agreement was amended in 2020 to open membership to all United Nations member states. The ISA gained observer status at the UN General Assembly in 2018. Its stated aim is to help mobilise about USD 1 trillion of investment in solar energy by 2030 and to reduce the cost of finance and technology for solar projects, under the Towards 1000 strategy of 1,000 GW of solar capacity and USD 1,000 billion of investment. Programmes include scaling solar applications for agriculture, solar mini-grids, rooftop solar and solar e-mobility. India also floated the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) idea in 2018 to connect solar-rich regions. Hedge details: membership numbers and targets change, so check the ISA website.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment

At a Glance

Launched 30 November 2015, Paris
Founders India and France
Treaty in force 6 December 2017
HQ Gurugram
Goal 1,000 GW, USD 1,000 billion
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the air pollutant list and begins the topics on climate cooperation, building on the National Solar Mission covered in the macro on schemes. Previous topic: Key Activities and Associated Air Pollutants. Next topic: Bonn Challenge and Climate Change Performance Index.

What Is the ISA and How Is It Organised?

Aspect	Details
Type	Treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation
Founders	India and France
Launch	30 November 2015 at COP21, Paris
Framework Agreement	Opened at COP22, Marrakech, November 2016; in force 6 December 2017
Headquarters	Gurugram, Haryana; on the National Institute of Solar Energy campus
Membership	Originally countries between the Tropics; open to all UN members since the 2020 amendment
Status	Observer at the UN General Assembly since 2018

What Does the ISA Aim to Do?

Towards 1000: 1,000 GW of solar and USD 1,000 billion of investment by 2030
Cheaper finance: reduce the cost of capital and risk for solar projects
Technology: share know-how, standards and training
Programmes: solar for farms, mini-grids, rooftops and e-mobility
OSOWOG: One Sun One World One Grid, to link solar regions across borders
Green Grids Initiative: joint initiative with the United Kingdom, launched in 2021
Focus: least developed countries and small island developing states
Concerns: slow disbursal of funds and uneven membership participation

What Else Should You Remember?

Reason for ISA: sunshine-rich countries lack finance and a common market for solar
Paris Agreement link: launched at the same conference that adopted the Paris Agreement
Assembly: the highest body, with each member having one vote
Secretariat: led by the Director-General
Funding: India has given support for the HQ building and activities, and others contribute
Membership: over 100 countries have signed the agreement, as per recent counts
Observers: include non-member countries and organisations
India’s solar target: 280 GW of solar capacity by 2030 under the 500 GW non-fossil capacity goal
National Solar Mission: launched in 2010 as Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission
Solar parks: India has solar parks scheme
PM-KUSUM: solar pumps and farm plants
Rooftop solar: PM Surya Ghar scheme of 2024
Solar manufacturing: PLI scheme for solar modules
Solar potential: India receives over 300 clear sunny days in most parts
Global Solar Atlas: ISA works on solar resource data
Solar Facility: ISA’s Global Solar Facility is an initiative to provide payment guarantees
STAR centres: training and capacity building
Solar pumps: agriculture programme
Link with UN: ISA works with UNFCCC, IRENA and the World Bank
IRENA: International Renewable Energy Agency, headquartered in Abu Dhabi
Difference from IRENA: ISA focuses on solar and finance for sunshine countries, while IRENA covers all renewables
Link to previous: see Key Activities and Associated Air Pollutants
Link to next: see Bonn Challenge and Climate Change Performance Index
Link to solar: see National Solar Mission
Caution: membership and project figures change, so check the ISA website
Exam hint: remember 2015 COP21, Gurugram, 2017 in force and the 2020 amendment
ISA Assembly: Meets annually, usually in New Delhi, and decides on programmes, budget and new members
Country partners: France, India and the member countries lead specific programmes like solar for agriculture
Learning from others: The Alliance pools lessons from solar auctions, rooftop policy and mini-grid models
Developing country focus: Many members are small island states and least developed countries where diesel generators are still common
Cost trend: The cost of solar modules has fallen sharply in the last decade, which creates room for finance to scale deployment
Criticism: Observers note that the Alliance depends on voluntary contributions and that the results must be visible in projects
Climate link: Solar expansion helps meet the Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement
Finance gap: Solar projects in poorer countries face high borrowing cost, so guarantees and blended finance are central to the ISA plan
Partnerships: The ISA works with multilateral banks and agencies to prepare bankable projects
India role: India provides training, lines of credit and a base for the secretariat

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch: COP21, 2015
HQ: Gurugram
Founders: India, France
Current affairs link: OSOWOG, Green Grids
Common errors: confusing ISA with IRENA

As an analytical point, the ISA moved India from a national solar mission to a global convening role. Its success will depend on cheaper finance, standards and actual projects in poorer countries, not on membership numbers.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Aim Solar finance
Reach Sunshine countries
Gap Delivery

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Bonn Challenge and the Climate Change Performance Index. Next topic: Bonn Challenge and Climate Change Performance Index.

Key People and Terms

ISA International Solar Alliance
OSOWOG One Sun One World One Grid
GW Gigawatt
IRENA Renewable agency
Towards 1000 ISA strategy
GGI Green Grids Initiative

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched 2015 at COP21.
HQ Gurugram.
In force 2017.
Open to all UN members since 2020.
Goal: 1,000 GW.

Do Not Confuse With

ISA and IRENA Solar-focused alliance versus all-renewables agency
ISA and OSOWOG Organisation versus grid idea
ISA and National Solar Mission International versus national

Memory Hook

Paris fifteen, in force seventeen; Gurugram hosts the sun.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for founders, year and HQ. These points help.

Aim Solar finance
Tools Programmes
Gaps Delivery

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the objectives and significance of the International Solar Alliance for India and the world.”

How to Answer

Aim Solar.
Structure Treaty.
Programmes Farm, grid.
Gaps Finance.

GS Relevance

Prelims: founders, HQ, year, membership, OSOWOG. GS Paper 2 and 3: international groupings and solar energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the International Solar Alliance?

The International Solar Alliance is a treaty-based international organisation launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris on 30 November 2015 to promote solar energy, mainly in sunshine-rich countries. It works to reduce the cost of solar finance and technology and help mobilise large investments by 2030.

Where is the ISA headquartered?

The ISA is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, on the campus of the National Institute of Solar Energy. It is the first international intergovernmental organisation to be based in India. The Framework Agreement entered into force on 6 December 2017, and the Alliance is an observer at the UN General Assembly.

Who can join the ISA?

At first, membership was for countries lying fully or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The Framework Agreement was amended in 2020 to allow all United Nations member states to join. More than 100 countries have signed, though the exact number changes and should be checked.

What is One Sun One World One Grid?

One Sun One World One Grid is an idea floated by India in 2018 to link solar-rich regions through a transnational power grid so that solar power can be shared across time zones. It is related to the ISA's work and to the Green Grids Initiative launched with the United Kingdom in 2021.

How is the ISA different from IRENA?

The ISA focuses on solar energy and on reducing finance and technology barriers for sunshine-rich countries, and was launched in 2015. The International Renewable Energy Agency, based in Abu Dhabi, was established earlier and covers all forms of renewable energy for all its members.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The ISA was launched at COP21 in Paris.

True

By India and France.

2 The ISA is headquartered in Delhi.

False

In Gurugram.

3 The ISA Agreement entered into force in 2017.