The Hon’ble President of India, H. E. Smt. Droupadi Murmu delivered a keynote address at the Eighth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly today at the iconic Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This marked the first-ever address by the President of India to the ISA Assembly, underscoring India’s commitment to ISA's leadership in advancing global solar energy cooperation and its founding vision of “One World, One Sun, One Grid advanced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. The President’s address set the tone for the Assembly’s high-level deliberations, which are hosting ministers, policymakers, and international partners from 125 Member and Signatory Countries, with the unanimous intention of accelerating global cooperation and investment in solar energy. This is an important global convening with the participation of over 550 delegates and 30 Ministers and Vice Ministers, which takes place a few days before COP30, to be hosted in Brazil.

In her keynote address, Hon’ble President of India, H.E. Smt Droupadi Murmu said, “The International Solar Alliance has already made remarkable progress, including the Global Solar Facility, Small Island Developing States Platform, Africa’s solar mini-grids and emerging digital innovations. The next step must be deeper inclusivity, ensuring that no woman, no farmer, no village, and no small island is left behind in this solar revolution. India remains steadfast in its commitment to work with all ISA Member Countries to build a solar-powered world—one in which every region, from the smallest island to the largest continent, prospers.”

She further added, “As this Assembly deliberates on the way forward, I urge all Member Countries to think beyond infrastructure and focus on the lives of the people. I urge this Assembly to develop a collective action plan that links solar energy with job creation, women’s leadership, rural livelihoods, and digital inclusion. Our progress should not only be measured through megawatts but through the number of lives illuminated, the number of families strengthened, and the number of communities transformed. The focus should also be on technology development and on sharing the latest and advanced technologies with all for maximum benefit. As we expand large-scale solar installations, we should ensure that the ecological balance of the region is preserved. After all, environment conservation for future is the very reason we are turning to green energy.”

The ISA, announced at COP21 in Paris, has evolved into a confident, results-driven institution underlining the notion of ambition to action. Over the past decade, it has moved from setting a global vision for solar energy to delivering measurable impact across Member Countries. Guided by its evolving vision anchored around four strategic pillars—Catalytic Finance Hub, Global Capability Centre & Digitisation, Regional and Country-Level Engagement, and Technology Roadmap & Policy—the Alliance is building a comprehensive ecosystem that mobilises investment, enhances capacity, informs policy, and promotes technological innovation, ensuring that solar energy becomes accessible, reliable, and affordable worldwide.

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Minister for New and Renewable Energy, India & President of ISA Assembly, said, “ISA is a true symbol of global cooperation and shared purpose. For thousands of years, India has shown how faith and progress, nature and growth, can move together in harmony. Just over a decade ago, India’s renewable energy journey was only beginning. Our challenge was to bring light to hundreds of millions of homes. Today, India stands at the forefront, not just as a participant but a leader in the global energy transition. India is now the world’s 4th-largest in RE capacity. This transformation was led by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. Under his leadership, India achieved the Nationally Determined Contribution target of 50% capacity from non-fossil sources, 5 years ahead of the deadline. India is the voice of the Global South. And through ISA, we are turning that voice into action, helping nations harness solar power and share technology.”

Representing the French Co-Presidency of the International Solar Alliance, H.E. Mrs Eléonore Caroit, French Minister of State (Ministre Déléguée) for Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad, said in a video message: “France attaches the utmost importance to the International Solar Alliance, which plays a pivotal role in advancing solar energy. Since the launch of the Alliance nearly ten years ago, France has had the honour of serving as co-president alongside India. This longstanding partnership reflects our unwavering commitment to the success of the Alliance and to the acceleration of the energy transition through solar power deployment.”

H.E. Mr Benoit FARACO, Special Envoy for Climate, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, said, “The Alliance’s work directly contributes to the implementation of COP decisions. Ten years ago, we adopted the Paris Agreement and decided on a common objective to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. We look forward to seeing ISA showcase its success at COP30 this November.” France also announced financial support to ISA’s flagship initiative, the Africa Solar Facility.

“The world is at a turning point in the solar revolution — it took 25 years to build the first 1,000 GW of solar capacity, but only two years to add the next 1,000 GW. With capacity set to double again within four years, the Global South stands at the centre of this transformation,” said Mr Ashish Khanna, Director General, International Solar Alliance. “ISA is now moving from advocacy to action — taking India’s successful solar experience in large-scale deployment, innovation, and affordability to countries across the Global South. Through initiatives such as joint procurement by Small Island Developing States, the Africa Solar Facility, the launch of the Global Capability Centre, new programmes on circularity & waste management, and a dedicated programme on OSOWOG, we are helping nations move from pilots to scale — building solar economies that are sustainable, inclusive, and regenerative. This is the moment for Global South leadership in shaping an inclusive, resilient, and solar-powered future.”

India’s achievements in solar energy are a powerful source of inspiration. Now the world’s third-largest solar power producer, India has achieved 50% of its total installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources five years ahead of its 2030 target, avoided nearly ₹4 lakh crore (USD ~46 billion) in fossil fuel imports and pollution-related costs, and produced over 1,08,000 GWh of solar electricity. Through ISA, India will help replicate successful initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar – Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM across developing countries, particularly in Africa and small island nations. These programmes demonstrate the transformative impact of decentralised, people-focused energy solutions—powering homes, supporting livelihoods, and taking energy access to the last mile. This is a shining example of South–South cooperation, sharing lessons, scaling solutions, and accelerating global solar adoption.

Key Highlights:

• Launch of SUNRISE — the Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling, Innovation & Stakeholder Engagement. SUNRISE will connect governments, industries, and innovators to unlock the value embedded in solar waste, transforming end-of-life challenges into engines of new industrial growth, green employment, and sustainable resource management.

• A dedicated One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) programme, creating a vertical to drive regional solar interconnections. A forthcoming report identifies priority links across East Asia–South Asia, South Asia–Middle East, Middle East–Europe, and Europe–Africa, with feasibility studies and regulatory work set to begin over the next 2–3 years.
• Ministers and heads of delegations from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) signed an in-principle Memorandum of Understanding for Procurement under the SIDS Platform, jointly developed by the ISA and the World Bank Group. The signing reaffirmed the commitment of 16 Member Countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Nauru, Suriname, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Solomon Islands, Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Fiji, Marshall Islands) to advancing solar energy deployment through coordinated procurement, digital integration, and capacity-building to enhance energy resilience.
• Unveiling of the Global Capability Centre pursuing the vision of Silicon Valley for solar in India using a hub-and-spoke model connecting existing national centres of excellence operating as Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) and introduction to the ISA Academy, an online platform with AI-driven personalised learning pathways that democratise access to solar-related knowledge for all.

The Assembly will also witness the launch of five ISA knowledge products — Ease of Doing Solar 2025, Solar PV Skills and Jobs in Africa, Solar Compass: Special Issue on Integrated Photovoltaics, Global Floating Solar Framework, and Global Solar Trends & Outlook 2025. These reports will highlight key trends shaping the global solar landscape:

• Ease of Doing Solar (EODS) notes that global investments in the energy transition reached USD 2083 billion in 2024, with ISA Member Countries contributing USD 861.2 billion, underscoring the rising leadership of the Global South in shaping the clean energy future. Renewable energy attracted USD 725 billion, of which solar power accounted for USD 521 billion—cementing its position as the dominant driver of the global energy transformation.

• Solar PV Skills and Jobs in Africa projects the continent’s solar workforce to grow from 226,000 today to 2.5–4.2 million by 2050. Technicians will drive this growth, with 1.3 million roles expected, and small-scale systems accounting for 55% of all jobs. ISA calls for stronger certification, future-ready training, digital learning, and regional cooperation to build a skilled solar workforce for Africa’s clean energy future.

• Global Solar Trends & Outlook 2025 examines the transformation of solar energy from an emerging technology to the dominant force in global clean energy expansion. This comprehensive report provides decision-makers, investors, and development partners with critical insights into the evolving solar landscape.
• Solar Compass – Special Issue on Integrated PV Applications highlights that now is the moment for Global South leadership in solar innovation. With nearly 70% of buildings in developing countries yet to be constructed, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) offers a transformative opportunity to embed solar into the very fabric of future infrastructure. Through ISA-led initiatives, efforts are underway to reduce BIPV costs to rooftop solar levels and promote enabling policies—such as solar-ready housing codes—across the Global South.

• Global Floating Solar Framework projects global floating solar capacity to expand rapidly over the next decade, with the Asia-Pacific region expected to lead this growth. This expansion reflects falling generation costs, currently between USD 0.05 and 0.07 per kWh, and continued design innovations that are making floating solar a viable alternative to land-based systems. The framework equips countries with the tools to develop strategies tailored to their unique geographies, markets, and social contexts.

The Assembly will conclude with a site visit to BSES Rajdhani Power Limited’s Kilokri Battery Energy Storage System, India’s largest standalone urban BESS, and the Digital Twin of Network Project in Janakpuri, a landmark initiative introducing India’s first large-scale, real-time digital twin for power distribution.

The Eighth Session of the ISA Assembly reaffirms the Alliance’s commitment to global solar collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development, showcasing how partnerships, knowledge sharing, and technology can together deliver a solar-powered future for all.

About the International Solar Alliance:

The International Solar Alliance is a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris. It has 125 Member and Signatory Countries. The Alliance works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promotes solar power as a sustainable transition to a clean energy future.

ISA’s evolving vision is anchored on four strategic pillars: (1) Catalytic Finance Hub to unlock and mobilise investments at scale; (2) Global Capability Centre and Digitisation to foster innovation, digital platforms, and capacity building across Member Countries; (3) Regional and Country-level Engagement to drive tailored interventions through strategic partnerships and (4) Technology Roadmap and Policy to accelerate the deployment of emerging solar technologies through actionable policy frameworks and knowledge resources.

With its advocacy for solar-powered solutions, ISA aims to transform lives, bring clean, reliable, and affordable energy to communities worldwide, fuel sustainable growth, and improve quality of life. On 6 December 2017, 15 countries signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement, making ISA the first international intergovernmental organisation to be headquartered in India.

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Navin Sreejith