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).

The World Solar Technology Summit is expected to drive the necessary growth of solar energy around the world through innovations. The Renewable Energy Minister stated that at this crucial junction when the world is battling the corona pandemic, the collective efforts of the ISA members will not only help face this challenge but also provide impetus towards achieving the objective of “universal electricity access to all.”

Key Highlights 

• The first World Solar Technology Summit is expected to see participation from ministers from member countries from across all ISA regions.

• Besides this, Nobel Prize Winner Dr. M Stanley Whittingham will be presenting the keynote address during the inaugural ceremony. Dr. Whittingham was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with John B Goodenough & Akira Yoshino in 2019 for the revolutionary discovery of lithium-ion batteries.

• The ISA would also be launching the ISA Journal on Solar Energy (I JOSE) on the occasion that would help authors from across the globe to publish their articles on solar energy.

• The articles in the journal would be reviewed by global experts. They would be reaching the Member nations through ISA’s STAR (Solar Technology and Application Resource centers) centres and NFPs (National Focal points). 

• The summit would see deliberations on low cost, innovative and affordable solar technologies by high-level dignitaries from the scientific research and development world. 

• Several senior government functionaries and heads of global corporations, financial and multilateral institutions, think tanks, civil society and foundations are expected to be present during the inaugural session. 

• There will also be a CEO conclave where CEOs of top global corporations that have made pathbreaking progress in implementing and scaling up solar technologies will take part.

 Steps Taken by India:

o 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.

o 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.

o India is providing capacity-building support to ISA member countries through its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.

o 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.

o 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.

 Solar Energy related Schemes:

o 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.

o 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.

o 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.

o 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.

o 750 megawatt (MW) solar project which has been inaugurated in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.