ISA's Global grid plan

Context: Ahead of COP-26,  Fourth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance - ISA being held virtually will deliberate on the key initiatives around the operationalisation of One Sun One World One Grid initiative, 1 trillion dollar Solar Investment Roadmap for 2030, and approval of a Blended Financial Risk Mitigation Facility.
Key Initiatives

• To kickstart the ambitious One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) project floated by the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the South Asian network and existing power transfer between India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh would be boosted in the first phase of the action plan.

Note: The idea of OSOWOG project was first announced by the PM in 2018 during the first assembly of another international entity, the ISA.

• OSOWOG project has two key components – South Asia Power Pool and India GCC Electricity Interconnection.

They also discuss the strategic plan of the ISA for the next five years which includes Country Partnership Framework, Strategy for Private Sector Engagement, and initiatives such as Viability Gap Financing scheme to facilitate affordable finance for solar energy projects across ISA’s membership.

Significance

• The proposed integration would lead to reduced project costs, higher efficiencies and increased asset utilization for all the participating entities.
• This plan will require only incremental investment because it will not require a parallel grid infrastructure due to working with existing grids.
• It will help all the participating entities in attracting investments in renewable energy sources as well as utilizing skills, technology and finances.
• Resulting economic benefits would positively impact poverty alleviation and support in mitigating water, sanitation, food and other socio-economic challenges.
• It will allow national renewable energy management centres in India to grow as regional and global management centres.

Earlier on 21 February about ISA’ plans to launch a Green Grid Initiative (GGI) at COP-26 at Glasgow. ISA co-founded by India during the 2015 climate change conference in Paris has assumed centre-stage for India’ attempts at a global climate leadership role. 

• “GGI-OSOWOG will bring more technical, financial and research cooperation to help facilitate cross-border renewable energy transfer projects and greening of grids at regional and national levels,

Key Impact of this move

• OSOWOG offers an opportunity to use solar energy 24 hours a day even when the sun is not shining over us, because it is shining somewhere else on the globe.
• The electricity transfer between India and the neighbouring countries can be boosted. “There is already 3 Gw of transfer capacity already installed between Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal with India. It can be increased to 7 Gw by 2023, and if plans are fulfilled, this capacity can be doubled to 14 Gw by 2025.

About International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Officially announced during the COP21 in Paris in 2015, the ISA is a partnership of solar resource-rich countries. Currently, 121 countries have agreed to be members of ISA. 
• Most of these are countries with a large participation from Africa, South-east Asia, and Europe. 
• Pakistan and China are not members of the ISA. 
• It is headquartered in Gurugram.