ISA is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation launched by India and France in 2015 on sidelines of COP-21 of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris.
 

About ISA (HQ: Gurugram, India)

• Objective: Provide a dedicated platform for cooperation among solar resource rich countries to support the increasing use of solar energy.
• ISA Framework Agreement entered into force in 2017. With amendment of its Framework Agreement in 2020, all member states of UN are now eligible to join ISA.
• ISA is guided by ‘Towards 1000’ strategy, aiming to:
  • Mobilise USD 1,000 billion of investments in solar energy by 2030.
  • Delivering Energy access to 1,000 million people.
  • 1,000 GW of solar energy installation.

Importance of ISA

• India: Leadership role in clean energy, achieving net neutrality by 2070, ensuring energy security etc.
• Global: Mitigate global solar emissions (1,000 million tonnes of CO2 every year), market development for solar energy etc. 

Associated Challenges 

• Dominance of china in solar supply chain. 
• Technical challenges in Grid integration. 
• Low private Investment due to risks and uncertainties.