International Solar Alliance will unlock massive private sector opportunities: Govt

The  International Solar Alliance, the pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, forged on the sidelines of the recently-concluded Paris climate change summit, will unlock opportunities for the private sector in clean energy, the government on Wednesday said. It also asserted that the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) or climate action plan of India which it submitted before the summit will be “impinging” upon the industries post 2020 and the Centre may soon roll out a roadmap for INDCs.

“Government’s involvement in the International Solar Alliance and Mission Innovation, forged on the sidelines of COP 21, will unlock private sector opportunities in clean energy,” Union Environment Secretary Ashok Lavasa said at an interactive session on COP21 organised by Ficci here. 

It may be mentioned here that foundation-laying ceremony of the Interim Secretariat of ISA will be done by Modi and French president Francois Hollande on January 25 at the National Institute of Solar Energy in Gurgaon. Hollande is the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations this year. India will provide land and contribute about $30 million to build the Secretariat infrastructure of the initiative and support its operation for the next five years.

Similarly Mission Innovation, also launched at the COP21 is a coalition to boost clean energy research and development. Lavasa also encouraged the private sector to participate in the second phase of ‘Perform, Achieve and Trade’ (PAT) scheme on energy efficiency, increase investments in solar manufacturing and management of municipal solid waste.