ISA & UNDP Launch Pilot Projects on Scaling Solar Applications

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International Solar Alliance and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have announced the launch of pilot projects on Scaling Solar Applications for Agriculture Use (SSAAU), in ten African ISA member countries: Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, Republic of Sudan, Senegal, South Sudan, Togo, Tuvalu, and Uganda. The programme is set to be implemented over the next two years. ISA and UNDP have jointly secured financial support worth USD 2 million for the programme.

The International Solar Alliance is an international organisation with 114 member and signatory countries. It works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promote solar power as a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral future.

The pilot programme will provide agricultural workers enhanced energy access and a sustainable irrigation solution through new and innovative solar water pumping systems deployment models. The larger goal of the initiative is to help member countries devise and implement large-scale projects and schemes to induct solar pumping technology in agricultural practices. This will help agriculture-based communities curb their carbon emissions and enjoy cost efficiencies.

Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, ISA, remarked, “Solar energy is the fastest-growing renewable energy source in Africa. This initiative has the potential to become the epitome of South-South cooperation and demand aggregation employing ISA’s convening power. I applaud this achievement which showcases both popularity and impact of ISA’s programmes and, in this case, the vision of its very first programme of implementing decentralised solar applications in rural settings in the form of solar water pumping systems (SWPs) and reinforcing it with technical assistance.”

Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India, stated, “Agri food systems account for 31 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions globally. Expanding application of solar technologies in agriculture, especially in energy intensive areas like irrigation, will help reduce emissions while also enhancing farmer incomes. Through this partnership, ISA and UNDP will  promote solar applications in agriculture across 9 countries in Africa and Pacific islands.”

The avenues of the partnership will entail the exploration of localised and innovative deployment models, pilot demonstration, skill programmes and trainings for technical staff to build local capacity. It will also look at developing best practices documents and detailing learnings from demonstration projects.

The ISA’s mission is to unlock US$ 1 trillion of investments in solar by 2030 while reducing the cost of the technology and its financing. It promotes the use of solar energy in the agriculture, health, transport and power generation sectors. The member countries of the body are enacting policies and regulations, sharing best practices, agreeing on common standards, and mobilising investments. Through this work, ISA has identified and designed and tested new business models for solar projects; supported governments to make their energy legislation and policies solar-friendly through Ease of Doing Solar analytics and advisory.