ISA to establish 17 centres of excellence and a global solar hub in India

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) will set up 17 centres of excellence across as many countries by the end of this year, Director General Ashish Khanna said on Wednesday. A Global Capability Centre will also be created in India to serve as a central hub linking these centres, described as a “Silicon Valley for solar.”

Mr. Khanna, speaking at a lecture organised by The Energy and Resources Institute, said the centres would focus on testing, laboratory training, and fostering startup ecosystems in universities modelled on the Indian Institute of Technology. He noted that the network could expand to 50 countries, as many are turning to India for expertise in building human capability for solar deployment.

The ISA, launched by India and France at the 2015 Paris climate conference, is headquartered in Gurugram and has about 100 member countries. Its mission is to encourage global adoption of solar energy and mobilise $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030, while reducing technology and financing costs.