Modi, Hollande launch global solar alliance

Narendra Modi and France President Francois Hollande at COP21 Summit in Paris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the 122-country global solar alliance along with French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the Conference of Parties (CoP-21) climate summit that got underway in Paris.

“A symbol of life and a source of hope! PM @narendramodi and Prez @fhollande at launch of Int’l Solar Alliance,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.

“A group for harnessing the power of sun, the Int’l Solar Alliance brings together nations between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn,” he added.

Narendra Modi said on said that given the excesses of then industrial age, the world must turn to the Sun to pwer its future.

“Today, when the energy sources and excesses of our industrial age have put our planet in peril, we must turn to Sun to power our future,” Modi said while jointly launching an International Solar Alliance with French President Francois Hollande at the Conference of Parties (CoP) climate summit.

This alliance of 122 countries lying between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn has been formed to collectively harness the power of the Sun.

“In the Indian tradition, Sun is the source of all forms of energy,” Mnodi said.

He said that “convergence of economy, ecology and energy should define our future”.

“India has the capacity of four gigawatts (GW) and we have set a target of adding 100 GW of solar power by 2022,” the prime minister said.

PM’s remarks

The vast majority of humanity is blessed with generous sunlight round the year. Yet, many are also without any source of power.

This is why this alliance is so important.

We want to bring solar energy into our lives and homes, by making it cheaper, more reliable and easier to connect to grid.

We will collaborate on research and innovation. We will share knowledge and exchange best practices.

We will cooperate on training and building institutions. We will discuss regulatory issues and promote common standards.

We will attract investments in the solar sector, encourage joint ventures and develop innovative financing mechanisms.

We will partner with other international initiatives on renewable energy.

There is already a revolution in solar energy. Technology is evolving, costs are coming down and grid connectivity is improving.

It is making the dream of universal access to clean energy become more real.

India has a capacity of 4GW and we have set a target of adding 100 GW of solar power by 2022. By the end of next year, we would have added another 12 GW.

I am delighted with the industry response. As you put clean energy within the reach of all, it will create unlimited economic opportunities that will be the foundation of the new economy of this century.

This is an alliance that brings together developed and developing countries, governments and industries, laboratories and institutions, in a common enterprise.

India will be pleased to host this initiative at the premises of our National Institute of Solar Energy. We will provide land and contribute approximately 30 million U.S. dollars to build the Secretariat infrastructure.

We will support operations for five years, and together we will raise long terms funds to achieve our prescribed goals.

This day is the sunrise of new hope – not just for clean energy, but for villages and homes still in darkness; and for our mornings and evenings filled with a clear view of the glory of the sun.