Rajya Sabha TV : The Big Picture “One World One Sun One Grid”

While inaugurating the first general assembly of the International Solar Alliance, PM Modi has emphasized that India would be generating 40% of power from non-fossil fuels by 2030. He has called for connecting solar energy supply across borders (a global electricity grid) and gave the tagline of ‘One World One Sun One Grid‘.

• He said that solar power will have the same role to play as has been played by the oil wells all these years in meeting the energy needs of the world.
• Modi also stressed that he perceives the International Solar Alliance as the future OPEC which will be meeting half of the world’s energy needs.
• The ISA was formed in 2015 and enables cooperation among sun-rich countries laying fully or partly between the tropics and those who are keen on tapping solar energy and helping in reducing the GHG emissions and providing clean and cheap energy.
• In the same meeting, it has been argued that the ISA might consider an amendment to its original treaty and allow countries like Germany, Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Nepal and Afghanistan, which have evinced interest in becoming ISA members.
• This proposal has come against the backdrop of China’s ambitious China’s ambitious OBOR initiative aimed at connecting countries across Asia, Africa and Europe.

The idea behind the mantra One World, One Sun, One Grid

• Humans have been dependant on resources tapped below the earth’s crust to meet their energy needs. It is about time now to harness resources like solar and wind now.
• Sun never sets for all the places on the earth at one point in time. Thus, if all countries are connected to one another via one grid, we can tap the energy all for one.
• The Paris Agreement has mentioned that to stop the destruction of the climate, we need to limit the rise of temperature to 2 degrees. Along with this, it is imperative that we make a considerable transition towards renewable energy by 2040.

The PM also talked about India’s emerging green economy. To support his argument, the following points were highlighted.

• In the past 4 years, 42 billion US dollars have been invested in India.
• In the same period, India has registered low solar and wind power tariff of Rs. 2.44 per unit and 2.43 per kWh respectively. This has, in turn, led to solar power becoming affordable to the poor and has brought them electricity.
• India has decided 40 percent of electricity capacity would be non-fossil fuel based by 2030.
• Modi also talked about the KUSUM and UJALA schemes for LED bulbs and their impact on curbing climate change. He brought forth the fact that 2.8 million off-grid agricultural solar pumps will be installed over the next four years and will enhance the capacity by 10 GW under KUSUM,
• Also, the UJALA scheme has enlarged the use of LED bulbs, resulting in an annualized savings of Rs. 16,000 crores.