The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 120 signatory countries, most being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The primary objective of the alliance is to work for the efficient consumption of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This initiative was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech in November 2015 at Wembley Stadium in which he referred to sunshine countries as Suryaputra (“Sons of the Sun”). The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights.
The ISA is headquartered in Haryana, India. In January 2016, Narendra Modi, and the then French President François Hollande jointly laid the foundation stone of the ISA Headquarters and inaugurated the interim Secretariat at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gwal Pahari, Gurugram, India.
The International Solar Festival, recently hosted by the International Solar Alliance at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi, 5-6 September 2024. It will catalyse global solar adoption by forging partnerships, unlocking innovative financing, deploying cutting-edge technology, and boosting capacity in ISA member countries. Aligning businesses, policymakers, and financial institutions, it will serve as a launchpad for transformative collaborations that fast-track the world’s transition to a future powered by affordable, reliable, and sustainable solar energy.
The Private Sector Pavilion was inaugurated by Shri Prahlad Joshi, Hon’ble Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, and the ISA Ministerial Delegation. It had around 34 stalls hosted by TERI, IIT Delhi, few companies like Avaada, CEEW etc. The main attraction was the tractor run on Solar Energy, Sundial and Solar Cooker. Large Puppets of African and Indian ethnicities were also roaming in the pavilion, amazing everyone. Their were lots of amazing dance performances of different regions like Indonesia, Africa etc. also along with stand-up comedy act by Aakash Gupta.
At the leadership panel, ‘India’s enhanced role in North-South partnership on faster solar energy transition’, Mr VK Dewangan, Managing Director and Chairman, REC Limited, highlighted the barriers overcome by the agency to promote installation of rooftop solar panels including conducting massive awareness campaigns among consumers to make solar the preferred source of energy. REC Limited has also embarked on a large-scale training exercise to equip workers with the requisite skills necessary to ensure installation of solar panels.
At the evening, there was a mesmerizing performance by A.R. Rehman, Mohit Chauhan, Rakshita Suresh and other singers on first day. Next day, Sri Lankan Singer Yohani performed in the evening.
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