India has once again secured the presidency of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), reaffirming its commitment to leading the global push for solar energy adoption. France has also been re-elected as the co-president of the alliance. The announcement was made by India’s Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, during the inaugural day of the seventh ISA assembly in New Delhi. India will hold the presidency until 2026.
The ISA, a coalition of 120 member and signatory countries, has been at the forefront of mobilizing resources and facilitating the deployment of solar projects worldwide. The alliance’s primary focus is on supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their transition to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Speaking at the event, Minister Joshi highlighted the transformative power of solar energy, stating, “Solar energy, once just a vision, is now a powerful reality, leading the world toward a cleaner and more sustainable path. The progress we’ve made together is undeniable, and the true potential of solar energy is unfolding, showing us just how transformative it can be.”
In a significant development, the ISA has appointed World Bank energy specialist Ashish Khanna as its next Director General, effective March 2025. Khanna brings over 26 years of experience in the energy sector development across both the private and public sectors in over 15 developing countries. His expertise spans South Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Khanna’s previous roles include leading the World Bank’s West and Central Africa programme, where he spearheaded Mission 300, an initiative aimed at providing energy access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. He also led a programme in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, facilitating private sector investment of $20 billion in the energy sector for Egypt.
In India, Khanna played a pivotal role as Lead Energy Specialist at the World Bank, working closely with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on policy and regulatory reforms to encourage private sector participation in solar energy development.
Khanna expressed his commitment to building on the existing successes of the ISA and fostering stronger partnerships. He sees the alliance’s participation in international forums as a critical avenue for growth and collaboration.
The ISA’s outgoing Director General, Ajay Mathur, who has led the alliance since 2021, will complete his tenure on March 14, 2025. In his welcome address, Mathur emphasized the ISA’s role as a global leader in driving energy transition through solar energy solutions. He highlighted the assembly’s contribution to shaping the ISA into a powerful voice in the international arena.
During its deliberations in New Delhi, the ISA assembly will also consider the budgets and work plans for the coming year, with a focus on updating the alliance’s priority areas of work, programmes, and projects. Discussions will include the guidelines for the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme, which provides grants of 10-35% of the total project cost to support the development of solar projects in LDCs and SIDS. Proposals from these countries will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
