Shaping a Solar Future: ISA Champions APAC Startups and Africa’s Energy Transformation ISA's unwavering dedication to fostering solar innovation in diverse regions, enhancing the global energy transition, and unlocking substantial investments to drive a low-carbon future.

NEW DELHI (INDIA): The International Solar Alliance (ISA), through the International Solar Festival 2024 in New Delhi, demonstrated its evolving role as a driver of global solar adoption, particularly in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and African regions. While its initiatives have been widely covered, a deeper analysis reveals the strategic underpinnings of ISA’s focus on entrepreneurship and financing as the linchpins for achieving a global energy transition. The festival highlighted two significant developments: the launch of the SolarX Startup Challenge 2024: APAC Edition and the announcement of exclusive talks with Africa50 to establish the Africa Solar Facility (ASF).

ISA’s Strategic Positioning: More Than Advocacy

The presence of global dignitaries and the emphasis on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision in his video address underline ISA’s broader leadership ambitions. Modi’s focus on ISA’s role in empowering Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), marginalized communities, and youth reinforces the strategic shift toward a solar-driven energy transformation rooted in global equity.

However, it is the architecture of ISA’s operational model that deserves closer scrutiny. ISA is no longer content with being a forum for advocacy; it is actively engaging in capacity building through entrepreneurship and addressing critical financing gaps in underserved regions. The inauguration ceremony featured international figures such as High Commissioner Philip Green (Australia), Ambassador Philipp Ackermann (Germany), and Ambassador Arunkoemar Hardien (Suriname), who underscored the global recognition of ISA’s mission. While the diplomatic presence was symbolic, it highlighted the multilateral approach ISA is pursuing to garner worldwide consensus and collaboration on solar initiatives.

SolarX Startup Challenge: Catalyzing Regional Innovation

The SolarX Startup Challenge 2024: APAC Edition was not just a contest for startups but a significant move in positioning the Asia-Pacific region as a breeding ground for scalable solar solutions. The initiative attracted over 270 participants, with 30 winners, including 10 from India, receiving cash grants and access to a tailored accelerator program. This is part of ISA’s calculated strategy to create **local, context-driven business models that can be replicated across diverse geographies.

The challenge signals ISA’s recognition that entrepreneurship is key to meeting the energy needs of developing nations. By investing in *homegrown innovations, ISA is enabling APAC countries to leapfrog traditional energy systems and adopt cutting-edge solar technologies. As Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA, noted,  “The SolarX Startup Challenge is not just about innovation—it’s about transforming local energy ecosystems.”

By linking startups with Invest India and other ecosystem partners, ISA is positioning solar not just as a technological solution but as an economic enabler, driving job creation and fostering new industries. This initiative also plays into ISA’s broader strategic narrative of decentralizing energy solutions, which are vital for the vast, diverse, and often under-electrified regions of APAC.

Africa Solar Facility: Financing Solar’s Future in Africa

In parallel, ISA’s collaboration with Africa50 to launch the Africa Solar Facility (ASF) represents an equally strategic move. The ASF is designed to address one of the most significant barriers to solar deployment in Africa: financing. With a target of USD 200 million, the ASF will focus on distributed solar projects, an area currently underserved due to high perceived risks and small project sizes.

While financing challenges are common across many sectors in Africa, solar energy presents a unique case where the capital investment needed is often seen as too risky or too complex by conventional investors. By engaging Africa50, an organization with a USD 7 billion portfolio* and expertise in mobilizing external funding, ISA is addressing this very gap. Africa50’s involvement ensures that these projects will have the financial backing and management expertise needed to scale.

The proposed ASF will not only contribute to Africa’s energy transition but also align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which seeks sustainable development across the continent. This partnership is a textbook example of ISA’s long-term vision: using strategic alliances to create tailored, region-specific solar solutions that can be scaled globally. It’s a recognition that solving Africa’s energy challenges requires more than technology—it needs a sustainable financial architecture.

Global Alliances: Evolving Beyond Advocacy

Day two of the festival showcased a panel discussion that crystallized the importance of international alliances in driving real action. Dammu Ravi, Secretary-ER, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, addressed the need for alliances to evolve beyond advocacy and tackle the real challenges of energy transition, particularly in the Global South. The discussion, moderated by Sarah Jacob, featured a diverse panel of global leaders, including Dr. Ajay Mathur (ISA), Gauri Singh (IRENA), and others, who emphasized a holistic approach to energy and infrastructure that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This panel highlights the growing acknowledgment that while advocacy is important, alliances like ISA need to shift towards operationalizing policies and enabling concrete solutions. The emphasis on the Global South suggests that ISA is focusing its efforts where the need for energy transformation is most urgent but where financing, infrastructure, and policy frameworks are most lacking. It is in this space that ISA is attempting to redefine itself—not merely as an alliance but as an enabler of change through concrete action.

ISA’s Broader Mission: Towards a Sustainable Future

The International Solar Festival 2024 was not just a moment to showcase ISA’s achievements but a strategic platform to align its broader mission with the evolving global energy landscape. Tarun Kapoor succinctly captured ISA’s intent:  “ISA is an ideal platform for exchanging ideas, encouraging manufacturers, and sharing best practices for solar adoption. India has a lot to share as well.”

This statement is a subtle nod to India’s role as a leader in shaping global solar strategies. India’s leadership in solar energy has allowed ISA to position itself as a knowledge-sharing platform, where emerging economies can learn from each other’s experiences, particularly in making solar energy affordable and accessible.

ISA’s ambition to unlock USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 and focus on reducing solar technology costs reflects a long-term vision aimed at making solar a mainstream energy source, not just for developed countries but, crucially, for developing economies. Its focus on entrepreneurship, policy frameworks, and innovative financing solutions like the Global Solar Facility (GSF) showcases ISA’s commitment to a bottom-up approach in energy transitions.

Strategic Path to Global Solar Leadership

The International Solar Festival 2024 showcased more than just initiatives -it highlighted ISA’s strategic direction in positioning itself as a global leader in solar energy. By focusing on entrepreneurship in the APAC region and financing solutions in Africa, ISA is setting a precedent for how international alliances can drive real change. The dual focus on localized innovation* and tailored financing is a pragmatic approach to addressing the world’s most pressing energy challenges.

As ISA continues to build on these initiatives, it is clear that its mission goes beyond advocacy. It is about enabling action, driving investments, and transforming energy ecosystems—all critical elements in the global push towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.

– Dr. Shahid Siddiqui | X @shahidsiddiqui

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Shahid Siddiqui

Accredited Journalist & Development Analyst, humanitarian, author, and activist. Special focus Rural, Refugee & Foreign Affairs)

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