International Solar Alliance Appoints Ashish Khanna as New Director General
At ISA's seventh Assembly in New Delhi, Ashish Khanna was appointed as the new Director General, succeeding Dr. Ajay Mathur. Key initiatives included funding underserved regions, supporting startups, and advancing solar investments to achieve carbon-neutrality.
November 05, 2024. By EI News Network
He succeeds Dr. Ajay Mathur, whose tenure will conclude on March 14, 2025. Khanna aims to focus on implementing solutions and fostering collaboration in international forums to enhance solar energy deployment. Dr. Mathur reflected on his achievements, including increasing member countries, completing various solar demonstration projects, and identifying 50 startups to promote solar energy.
Under his leadership, the ISA has aggregated 9.5 GW of project proposals and launched the STAR-C initiative, training over 900 professionals. The ISA seeks to mobilise USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030, promoting solar power as a sustainable transition toward a carbon-neutral future and advocating for policies that facilitate solar energy adoption across various sectors.
The event was inaugurated by India’s Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi. The event witnessed representatives from 103 members and 17 signatory countries. Speaking on the occasion, Joshi said, “As a coalition of 120 Member andSignatory countries, ISA has been at the forefront of mobilising resources and facilitating thedeployment of solar projects worldwide, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and SmallIsland Developing States (SIDS). I’m proud to state that ISA has successfully completed 21 out of 27 demonstration projects, showcasing our collective ability to make significant strides in solar energydeployment and support sustainable development across the globe."
The key initiatives discussed included the Solar Data Portal for real-time solar data, the Global Solar Facility for funding projects in underserved regions, and the SolarX Startup Challenge, which showcased scalable solutions from Asia-Pacific winners.
While, Dr. Ajay Mathur, ISA Director General, highlighted the assembly's role in promoting global solar transformation and addressing energy challenges, with completed solar demonstration projects in 11 countries.
Further, France’s Minister of State, Thani Mohamed Soilihi, reaffirmed support for the ISA with a EUR 1.5 billion financial commitment aimed at enhancing capacity building and financing access. The assembly will also focus on budgets, work plans, and new solar financing initiatives, culminating in a High-Level Technology Conference and a field visit to an agrivoltaic farm.
The Assembly, which represents 120 Member and Signatory countries, aims to position solar energy as a key driver of sustainable, carbon-neutral growth worldwide.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) also announced new office bearers for 2024-2026, with India and France continuing as President and Co-President, respectively. The appointments include Ghana and Seychelles as Vice Presidents for Africa, Australia and Sri Lanka for Asia-Pacific, Germany and Italy for Europe, and Grenada and Suriname for Latin America and the Caribbean. As the primary decision-making body, the ISA Assembly focuses on advancing global solar energy initiatives, particularly in energy access, security, and transition.
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