ISA’s 8th Assembly to Promote Global Solar Action and Drive Affordable, Inclusive Energy

The curtain raiser for the Eighth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was unveiled, marking the start of preparations for the high-level ministerial gathering scheduled from October 27 to 30 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The upcoming Assembly will bring together ministers, policymakers, and global energy leaders to deliberate on accelerating solar deployment, unlocking catalytic finance, advancing technology and innovation, and strengthening international partnerships ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

Launched jointly by India and France at COP21 in Paris, the ISA has grown into the largest treaty-based intergovernmental organisation from the Global South, comprising 124 Member and Signatory Countries. The forthcoming session, themed One Sun, One Vision, One Future, aims to foster collective action towards making solar energy accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all.

Speaking at the curtain raiser, Pralhad Joshi, Minister of New and Renewable Energy and President of the ISA Assembly, said that the country’s renewable energy journey reflects the power of clear vision and people-centric policies. “Thanks to a consistent policy framework, we achieved our renewable energy targets five years ahead of schedule, crossing the 50 percent mark in installed capacity from non-fossil sources. With approximately 125 GW of solar capacity, the nation stands as the world’s third-largest solar producer. But our success is not just about numbers, it’s about people. Decentralised solar has transformed lives, bringing light to rural homes, powering health centres, and empowering farmers through initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar – Muft Bijli Yojana,” he said.

Highlighting the success of the PM-KUSUM scheme, the Minister added that solarisation efforts are reaching the country’s heartland. The three components of the scheme target the installation of 10 GW of small solar plants, support 1.4 million off-grid solar pumps, and solarise 3.5 million grid-connected agricultural pumps—ensuring that clean energy reaches every corner of the nation.

Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, emphasised that the country’s leadership in clean energy extends beyond deployment to manufacturing and innovation. “We are now the third largest in solar power, fourth in wind power, and third overall in renewable energy installations globally. In solar manufacturing, we are second only to China and are also advancing rapidly in green hydrogen, targeting production of 5 million tonnes by 2031,” he said. He added that successful household and farm-level programmes such as the PM Surya Ghar – Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM provide scalable models that can be replicated globally.

Ashish Khanna, Director General of the International Solar Alliance, described this as a decisive moment for the Global South. “It took oil 25 years to reach 1,000 GW of capacity, renewables achieved that in just two. For the first time, renewable generation has surpassed fossil generation. The ISA is emerging as a platform of aggregation, bringing nations together to move from dialogue to delivery and ensuring solar truly becomes the foundation of a sustainable and inclusive future,” he said.

The Eighth Assembly will focus on four strategic pillars, Catalytic Finance Hub, Global Capability Centre and Digitisation, Regional and Country-Level Engagement, and Technology Roadmap and Policy. The deliberations will include advancing catalytic finance through the Africa Solar Facility, strengthening partnerships through the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Platform, and exploring innovations in floating solar, AI, green hydrogen, and solar for agriculture. The Assembly will also witness the release of ISA’s flagship publications, 'Ease of Doing Solar 2025' and 'Solar Trends 2025', providing insights into global progress and pathways to scale solar deployment.

Ahead of the Assembly, ISA held regional committee meetings across Brussels, Colombo, Santiago, and Accra, engaging representatives from over 100 countries to align regional initiatives with global goals. The recommendations from these meetings will guide the deliberations at the upcoming session, which aims to unite global efforts toward building a solar-powered, equitable, and sustainable future.