Context:
Mauritius became the first African country to sign ISA’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF)
International Solar Alliance (ISA):
- An action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies.
- Launched in – 2015, by India and France, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris (COP 21)
- Guided by – ‘Towards 1000’ strategy
- To mobilize USD 1000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030
- To deliver energy access to 1000 million people using clean energy solutions
- To install 1000 GW of solar energy capacity.
- To mitigate global solar emissions to the tune of 1000 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
- Headquarter – National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram, India.
- Members (signed & ratified the Agreement) – 104 (as of March 2025)
- All member states of the United Nations are eligible to join the ISA.
- United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has granted Observer Status to the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Important Initiatives:
- SolarX Startup Challenge – Offers grants and business acceleration support to start-ups, entrepreneurs etc.
- One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) – Aims to connect different regional grids through a common grid that will be used to transfer renewable energy power.
- Global Solar Facility (GSF) – Catalyze solar investments in underserved segments and geographies across Africa.
- Solar Technology Application Resource Centre [STAR C] Initiative – To support capacity building efforts.
- Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre – Explore synergies between solar energy and hydrogen.
Source: ET
Previous Year Question
It is possible to produce algae-based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry?
1. Production of algae-based biofuels is possible in seas only and not on continents.
2. Setting up and engineering the algae-based biofuels production requires a high level of expertise/ technology until the construction is complete.
3. Economically viable production necessitates the setting up of large-scale facilities, which may raise ecological and social concerns.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2017 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct. The production of algae-based biofuels is possible in seas as well as on continents.