Overview

• A treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation focused on promoting solar energy deployment worldwide.
• Established to support clean energy transition, energy access, and climate change mitigation.
• Works through implementation, finance mobilisation, and capacity building, rather than negotiations.

Origin and Establishment

• Launched in 2015 by India and France during COP-21 (Paris Climate Conference).
• The Framework Agreement entered into force in 2017, giving ISA a legal international status.
• Recognised as the first international organisation headquartered in India.
• National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram, Haryana, India

Membership

• Membership open to UN member states with significant solar potential.
• Initially focused on countries located between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
• Partner country status available for countries outside the tropical belt.
• More than 100 countries are signatories, with over 90 ratified members.

Objectives

• Scale up deployment of solar energy technologies globally.
• Reduce the cost of solar power through aggregation of demand.
• Mobilise finance, technology, innovation, and research for solar projects.
• Enhance energy access, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Support global efforts to combat climate change and improve energy security.

‘Towards 1000’ Strategy

• Mobilisation of USD 1000 billion in solar investments by 2030.
• Provision of clean energy access to 1000 million people.
• Installation of 1000 GW of solar energy capacity.
• Reduction of 1000 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

Institutional Structure

• ISA Assembly
  • Apex decision-making body.
  • Comprises representatives from all member countries.
  • Approves policies, budget, and appoints the Director General.
  • First Assembly held in 2018 at Greater Noida, India.
• Secretariat
  • Responsible for implementation of programmes and initiatives.
• Director General
  • Chief executive authority of the organisation.

Key Areas of Work

• Solar power generation and grid integration.
• Solar irrigation and agricultural applications.
• Decentralised solar systems such as mini-grids.
• Capacity building and skill development.
• Solar-based solutions for health, storage, and resilience.

Partnerships

• Collaborates with:
  • Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)
  • Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)
  • Public and private sector entities
  • Civil society organisations
• Focus on deploying cost-effective and scalable solar solutions.

Significance

• Strengthens global solar cooperation and technology diffusion.
• Helps developing countries meet energy access and climate goals.
• Enhances India’s role in global climate and energy governance.
• Complements international climate frameworks through action-oriented delivery.

Challenges

• Access to affordable finance in developing economies.
• Grid stability and energy storage limitations.
• Regulatory and policy differences across member states.
• Technology transfer and local manufacturing constraints.