8th ISA Assembly Held in New Delhi

Eighth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly was held from 27–30 October 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The theme reflected ISA’s vision — “One Sun, One Vision, One World”, calling on the Global South to lead an inclusive solar revolution. The session reaffirmed India’s leadership and commitment to advancing a global solar-powered future.

This high-level ministerial assembly was convened just weeks before COP30 in Brazil, setting the global solar agenda and priorities for finance, technology, skills, and policy cooperation.

Key Highlights of 8th ISA Assembly

• Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
• Dates: 27–30 October 2025
• Focus: Strengthening solar cooperation among ISA members and accelerating the global energy transition.

The 8th ISA Assembly focused on four strategic pillars:

1. Catalytic Finance Hub
2. Global Capability Centre & Digitisation
3. Regional & Country-Level Engagement
4. Technology Roadmap & Policy

Major Outcomes and Initiatives Launched

SUNRISE Network (Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling, Innovation & Stakeholder Engagement)

• Purpose: Promote circular economy in the solar sector through recycling, upcycling, and innovation.
• Objective: Unite governments, industries, and innovators to transform solar waste into opportunities for green jobs and sustainable growth.

OSOWOG Initiative- One Sun One World One Grid

• Aim: Create a transnational electricity grid connecting solar-rich regions across continents.
• Priority Interconnections Identified:
  • East Asia–South Asia
  • South Asia–Middle East
  • Middle East–Europe
  • Europe–Africa
• Purpose: Enable clean energy trade and energy resilience through cross-border solar grid integration over the next decade.

Global Capability Centre (GCC) and ISA Academy

• Location: India
• GCC Objective: Establish India as a “Silicon Valley for Solar” by linking research and innovation hubs across member countries.
• ISA Academy:
  • AI-based e-learning platform for solar training and capacity building.
  • Will operate under the STAR-C model (Solar Technology Application Resource Centre) to foster R&D, innovation, and digital learning.
• Goal: Build a global knowledge ecosystem for solar professionals.

SIDS Procurement Platform

• MoU Signed: 16 Small Island Developing States (SIDS), ISA, and the World Bank.
• Objective: Joint solar procurement, digital integration, and capacity building for energy security and affordability in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Ocean regions.
• Outcome: Enhance resilient solar systems and shared financing frameworks.

Reports and Publications Released at the 8th ISA Assembly

ISA launched five key flagship reports:

Ease of Doing Solar 2025

• Global energy transition investments in 2024: USD 2,083 billion.
• ISA member countries contributed USD 861.2 billion.
• Solar power investments: USD 521 billion — the largest share among renewables.

Global Solar Trends & Outlook 2025

• Solar energy has become the dominant force in the global clean energy transition.

Solar Compass – Integrated PV Applications

• Highlights the potential for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
• 70% of future buildings in developing countries are yet to be built.
• ISA aims to make BIPV cost-competitive with rooftop solar and promote solar-ready housing policies.

Solar PV Skills and Jobs in Africa

• Analyses workforce opportunities and skills gaps in Africa’s solar transition.

Global Floating Solar Framework

• Outlines the future of floating solar energy systems for space-constrained countries.

India’s Leadership in Solar Energy Transition

India’s Renewable Energy Status (IRENA, 2025):

• 4th globally in total renewable energy capacity.
• 3rd in solar power capacity.
• 4th in wind power capacity.

Solar Capacity Growth (2014–2025):

• 2014: 2.82 GW → 2025: 110.9 GW (39-fold increase).
• Record 23.83 GW added in 2024–25.
• Achieved 50% of installed capacity from non-fossil sources, 5 years ahead of the 2030 target.

Manufacturing Expansion:

• Solar PV module capacity: 2.3 GW → 88 GW (38x rise).
• Solar PV cell capacity: 1.2 GW → 25 GW (21x rise).

India now ranks as the world’s third-largest solar producer, with approximately 125 GW capacity.

India’s Flagship Solar Initiatives

National Solar Mission:

• Part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• Aims to position India as a global solar energy leader.

PM Surya Ghar – Muft Bijli Yojana:

• Promotes rooftop solar adoption for households.
• Over 20 lakh households are currently benefiting.
• Target: Solarise 1 crore households.

PM-KUSUM Scheme:

• Supports farmers with solar pumps and grid-connected systems.
• Targets include:
  • 10 GW of small solar plants.
  • 1.4 million off-grid solar pumps.
  • 3.5 million grid-connected pumps.

Solar Parks Scheme:

• Facilitates large-scale solar project development across states.

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Solar Manufacturing:

• Boosts domestic production of high-efficiency solar modules.

India’s PM-KUSUM and Surya Ghar models are being replicated across Africa and SIDS through ISA partnerships.

About International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Founded: 2015
• Launched by: India and France at COP21, Paris
• Headquarters: Gurugram, India
• Nature: First treaty-based intergovernmental organization headquartered in India.
• Membership: 124 Member and Signatory Countries
  • Since 2020, all UN member states are eligible to join.
• Mission:
  • Mobilize USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030.
  • Reduce the cost of solar technology and finance.
  • Enhance energy access, security, and affordability globally.

Strategic Pillars of ISA:

1. Catalytic Finance Hub:
   • Mobilizes solar investments and risk-mitigation instruments.
2. Global Capability Centre & Digitisation:
   • Drives solar innovation and digital transformation.
3. Regional & Country-Level Engagement:
   • Ensures localized solar deployment through partnerships.
4. Technology Roadmap & Policy:
   • Supports policy alignment and adoption of emerging solar technologies.

Collaborative Initiatives:

• SolarX Startup Challenge
• STAR-C (Solar Technology Application Resource Centre)
• Global Solar Facility
• OSOWOG Initiative

Significance

• Reinforces India’s leadership in shaping the global clean energy agenda.
• Demonstrates the Global South’s growing role in renewable transitions.
• Strengthens South–South cooperation and inclusive energy access.
• Establishes India as a global hub for solar manufacturing, innovation, and policy leadership.
• The 8th ISA Assembly marks a transition from “ambition to action” — focusing on finance, technology, skills, and inclusivity for a solar-powered world.