Day 1 – Q 5. The International solar alliance presents multiple opportunities for India. Analyse. Also, discuss its key objectives and challenges in its implementation.
5. The International solar alliance presents multiple opportunities for India. Analyse. Also, discuss its key objectives and challenges in its implementation.
5. अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सौर गठबंधन भारत के लिए कई अवसर प्रस्तुत करता है। विश्लेषण करें। इसके अलावा, इसके कार्यान्वयन में प्रमुख उद्देश्यों और चुनौतियों पर चर्चा करें।
Approach:
In this question you need to introduce about ISA, mention it’s objectives, opportunities it presents to India, challenges faced by it and present a way to tackle these challenges.
Body:
International Solar Alliance is a global alliance of countries falling on or between the Tropics. It is the brainchild of India and was launched at Paris climate conference (2015) with Cooperation of France and is headquartered in India.
The overarching objectives of ISA are:
1) It aims to undertake Joint research and Development in production of cost and energy efficient Photo voltaic cells.
2) It aims to mobilize investments and funding for the solar energy initiatives across the world.
3) To form a coalition of solar resource rich countries to collaborate on addressing the identified gaps in their energy requirements (like Storage technology, addressing Variability of solar energy etc) through a common approach for increasing its deployment.
4) To enhance Energy security and help nations switch to the path of Sustainable development.
5) To address Global concerns like Climate change and help nations to adhere to INDC pledges under paris climate conference.
ISA presents numerous opportunities to India like:
1) Energy security : It reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, especially imports. It also helps provide electricity to remotest parts of the country and thereby helps in improving standard of living of the inhabitants of these areas.
2) Environmental security: It reduces pollution due to burning of fossil fuels and therefore decreases both health and ecological costs.
3) Economic opportunities: India can transform itself as a Global Manufacturing hub of photo voltaic cells. It can bring in Huge investments. Apart from earning valuable FOREX through exports, it can also boost employment and livelihood opportunities in India. Therefore helping us to harness our valuable demographic dividend.
4) Diplomatic opportunities: It helps in solidifying India’s position as a global leader in renewable energy production; it furthers global North-South and South-South cooperation (like training SOLAR MAMAS of Nigeria) and portrays India as a climate sensitive nation.
However, there are lot of challenges facing its implementation, viz:
1) Funding : Setting up of Solar energy plants is cost intensive. As, funds from Green Climate fund, WORLD BANK are inadequate, Developing world need huge financial support for its implementation.
2) Cost: Solar energy tariff will be higher in the initial years of production. So, it can be unpopular in Developing and 3rd world countries. So, there is a need to raise awareness about long term advantages of solar energy in the developing world.
3) Technology sharing: Western countries have most advanced solar energy technologies but are reluctant in devolving them to the developing world. Also, Solar dispute between developing country like India and US at WTO, can hamper it’s production. Addressing Storage and transmission technology needs emphasis as solar energy production is variable (day and night).
4) Climatic issues: With ever looming challenge of climate change, ISA needs to devise suitable energy mix strategies ( hybrid solar-wind mill, Solar tree by CSIR.
ISA presents a great opportunity to not only India but the entire world to tackle the challenges of Climate change holistically. Also, similar alliance in harnessing other forms of renewable energy can make the world more habitable for the generations to come.
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