Plans for a transnational network of solar power grids have been unveiled by the governments of India and the UK at Cop26.
Known as the Green Grids Initiative (GGI), the programme seeks to connect 140 countries to round-the-clock green and renewable power.
Solar energy
The project, spearheaded by the governments of India and the UK, and implemented by the International Solar Alliance (ISA), in partnership with the World Bank Group, aims to harness solar energy wherever the sun is shining, ensuring that generated electricity flows to areas that need it most.
The GGI will bring together a global coalition of national governments, international financial and technical organisations, legislators, power system operators and knowledge leaders to accelerate the construction of the new infrastructure needed for a world powered by clean energy.
In doing so, the project aims to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy such as coal by enabling them to purchase affordable solar power from other countries.
As the chief agency leading and delivering the project, ISA aims to help mobilise US$1 trillion of funding by 2030 to assist developing countries in expanding their solar power grids to meet their energy access, energy security and energy transition needs.
According to the ISA the solar transition roadmap “will go some way towards” realising its vision for a solar energy future.
“One Sun, One World and One Grid will not only reduce storage needs but also enhance the viability of solar projects. This creative initiative will not only reduce carbon footprints and energy cost but also open a new avenue for cooperation between different countries and regions,” said Narendra Modi prime minister of India.
“The One Sun One World One Grid and Green Grids Initiative is an idea whose time has come. If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these interconnected transnational grids are going to be critical solutions.”
The global grid concept was first announced by India in October 2018 during the first assembly of the ISA. In May 2021, the UK pledged technical, financial and research support for the project.
“This network has the potential to be a modern engineering marvel, and a catalyst for effectively mitigating climate change in the next decade,” added Dr Ajay Mathur, director ISA.
“The One Sun Declaration is multilateralism in action, with leaders of the world coming together to drive sustainable impactful change for a cleaner planet and a greener economy.”
Under the released plans, ISA intends to push for a network of interconnected green grids in the coming years. As part of its first phase, the project will drive interconnectivity across the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The second will focus on African power pools, while the third will drive global green grids interconnections.
Source: smartcitiesworld.net
Source: IOT NETWORK NEWS
