PR92798

GLASGOW, Scotland, Nov. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- The India and UK-led programme seeks to connect 140 countries to

round-the-clock green and renewable power

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), India Presidency of the ISA, and the UK

COP Presidency today unveiled plans for the first transnational network of

solar power grids, known as the Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One

Grid (GGI-OSOWOG), at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1677050/ISA_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1677051/OSOWOG_Logo.jpg

The announcement was accompanied by the One Sun declaration endorsed by 80 ISA

member countries, which stated that, "Realizing the vision of One Sun One World

One Grid through interconnected green grids can be transformational, enabling

all of us to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement to prevent dangerous

climate change, to accelerate the clean energy transition, and to achieve the

Sustainable Development Goals. These efforts can stimulate green investments

and create millions of good jobs. By sharing the sun's energy, we can help to

build a more peaceful and prosperous world."

The project, spearheaded by the Governments of India & the UK, and implemented

by ISA, in partnership with the World Bank Group, aims to harness solar energy

wherever the sun is shining, ensuring that generated electricity flows to areas

that need it most. The GGI-OSOWOG will bring together a global coalition of

national governments, international financial and technical organizations,

legislators, power system operators and knowledge leaders to accelerate the

construction of the new infrastructure needed for a world powered by clean

energy. In doing so, the project aims to reduce reliance on non-renewable

energy such as coal by enabling them to purchase affordable solar power from

other countries.

As the chief agency leading and delivering the project, ISA aims to help

mobilize US$1 trillion of funding by 2030 to assist developing countries in

expanding their solar power grids to meet their energy access, energy security

and energy transition needs. The initiative is widely seen as a big and bold

move ahead on the ISA's solar transition roadmap and will go some way towards

realizing its vision for a solar energy future.

Speaking at the event today, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi

said: "One Sun, One World and One Grid will not only reduce storage needs but

also enhance the viability of solar projects. This creative initiative will not

only reduce carbon footprints and energy cost but also open a new avenue for

cooperation between different countries and regions.

"The One Sun One World One Grid and Green Grids Initiative is an idea whose

time has come. If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these

interconnected transnational grids are going to be critical solutions. I

congratulate the International Solar Alliance and the UK COP Presidency for

bringing it nearer to implementation."

The event also featured an address by Rt Hon'ble Prime Minister Boris Johnson

of the United Kingdom, who stated: "What we want… is to take these inventions,

these breakthroughs, and get them the finance and the support they need to make

sure that they are disseminated through the whole world."

President Biden supported the GGI-OSOWOG initiative in his speech at the launch

event saying: "We have to scale up clean technologies that are already

commercially available and cost competitive like wind and solar energy."

Following the announcement, ISA Director General, Dr. Ajay Mathur, remarked:

"This network has the potential to be a modern engineering marvel, and a

catalyst for effectively mitigating climate change in the next decade. The One

Sun Declaration is multilateralism in action, with leaders of the world coming

together to drive sustainable impactful change for a cleaner planet and a

greener economy.

"Through the power of solar and other renewables, and our collective efforts,

we believe we can build and achieve a green recovery, transitioning away from

fossil fuels to a solar future and opening up affordable, renewable electricity

supplies to markets that have been historically underserved."

Under the plans being released today, ISA intends to push for a network of

interconnected green grids in the coming years. As part of its first phase, the

project will drive interconnectivity across the Middle East, South Asia and

Southeast Asia. The second will focus on African power pools, while the third

will drive global green grids interconnections.

The global grid concept was first announced by India's Prime Minister Narendra

Modi in October 2018 during the first assembly of the ISA. In May 2021, the UK

pledged technical, financial and research support for the OSOWOG project.

About the International Solar Alliance

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), was launched at COP21 in Paris and has

recently expanded its membership scope to include all UN member states. There

are 90 signatories and 193 prospective members. The ISA provides a dedicated

platform for co-operation, through which the global community, including

governments, bilateral and multilateral organizations, corporates, industry,

and other stakeholders, can contribute to help achieve the common goal of

increasing the use and quality of solar energy in meeting energy needs of

prospective ISA member countries in a safe, convenient, affordable, equitable

and sustainable manner.

SOURCE  International Solar Alliance