Catalysing Solar Cooperation: ISA’s Seventh Regional Committee Meeting (RCM) for the Asia and the Pacific Region Set to Advance Regional Partnership

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Catalysing Solar Cooperation: ISA’s Seventh Regional Committee Meeting (RCM) for the Asia and the Pacific Region Set to Advance Regional Partnership Posted On: 08 JUL 2025 4:45PM by PIB Delhi The International Solar Alliance (ISA) will host the Seventh Regional Committee Meeting (RCM) for the Asia and the Pacific Region from 15–17 July 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This important gathering will bring together government officials, technical universities, think tanks, institutional partners, and leaders from the private sector to advance a coordinated and strategic agenda for scaling solar deployment across this dynamic and diverse region. With the theme ‘Advancing Solar Cooperation Across a Region of Diversity and Opportunity’, the meeting will serve as a confluence of strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange, and action- oriented outcomes to strengthen the APAC region’s leadership in the global solar transition. Emphasising the significance of the Asia and the Pacific Region in shaping the clean energy future, Mr Ashish Khanna, Director General, ISA, remarked, “The Asia and the Pacific Region is at the heart of the global energy transition. The Regional Committee Meeting in Colombo is an opportunity to develop practical, investment-ready solutions with the potential to scale across countries and technologies. Whether it is developing regional aggregated solar energy platforms for SIDS, enabling regional interconnections between countries, scaling up Asian institutions for integration of solar and digital innovation, or supporting the growth of new technologies like Green Hydrogen and storage, this meeting will help chart a path towards a solar-powered future, grounded in partnerships and local leadership.” The RCM chaired by the Vice President from the region, the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, will serve as a platform to align regional solar priorities with ISA’s evolving strategic vision, anchored in its four foundational pillars: Catalytic Finance Hub: Expanding catalytic and blended finance initiatives to de-risk solar investments, with a view to scaling similar facilities across Asia and the Pacific, building on ISA’s experiences in Africa. Global Capability Centre and Digitisation: Progressing ISA’s vision of the ‘Silicon Valley for Solar’ through a hub-and-spoke model that connects STAR Centres, fosters innovation via the SolarX Startup Challenge, and provides tailored technical assistance across Member Countries. Regional and Country-Level Platforms: Expanding initiatives like the SIDS platform for e-tendering and e- procurement to aggregate regional demand and open wider market access. Technology Roadmap and Policy Innovation: The Regional Committee Meeting will support ISA Member Countries in adopting advanced solar technologies, diversifying supply chains, and integrating emerging solutions like Green Hydrogen and energy storage. These efforts build on the ISA–ADB joint project on Ecosystem Readiness for Green Hydrogen, which was prominently showcased at the Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) 2025 held in Manila, Philippines. During ACEF, ISA released key reports under this project, including the Framework for Green Hydrogen Hubs, country-specific readiness assessments, and strategic roadmaps for Energy Storage Systems and Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES). These resources will directly inform the technology pathways and policy discussions at the APAC RCM, enabling countries to fast- track deployment and scale solutions across the region. Other Thematic sessions during the APAC RCM will explore:Operationalising the SIDS Solar Platform: Building a transparent regional e-marketplace tailored for Small Island Developing States, focusing on institutional design, ownership models, and regional case studies. Strengthening Institutional Capacity through STAR Centres and the Global Capability Centre: Highlighting successful operational models in Bhutan, Papua New Guinea, and Kiribati, and co-developing digital learning platforms to close regional skill gaps. Accelerating Green Hydrogen, Energy Storage, and E-Mobility: Developing policy pathways and project pipelines for emerging solutions, especially targeting Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Advancing Regional Interconnections: Exploring frameworks for cross-border solar trade, new financing models, and leveraging regional grid infrastructure to expand solar access and lower costs. The RCM will also include the signing of Country Partnership Frameworks with select countries and Partnership Agreements with regional and international organisations to further strengthen ISA’s solar initiatives and expand collaborative efforts across the Asia and the Pacific region. In addition, the meeting will feature discussions on the establishment of new regional STAR Centres aimed at enhancing institutional capacity, building technical expertise, and supporting the region’s long-term solar energy goals. This Regional Committee Meeting will mark a significant step in strengthening ISA’s regional engagement, paving the way for impactful programmes, resilient partnerships, and long-term strategies aligned with ISA’s Framework Agreement and the broader global climate agenda. About the ISA Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific Region Meeting The Regional Committees of the ISA meet annually, chaired by a Vice-President from the Region, and aim to assess and discuss progress, challenges, and opportunities related to ISA's programmatic support, flagship initiatives, partnerships, private sector engagements, and work plan for the Region. A significant goal of the Regional Committee Meetings is smooth coordination among the Region’s Member Countries. The Asia and the Pacific Region currently includes 28 Member Countries, 30 Signatory Countries, and 24 Prospective Countries, bringing the total number of countries engaged in ISA activities within the region to 54. This growing regional representation reflects a strong foundation for advancing collaborative solar initiatives and deepening multilateral engagement. About the International Solar Alliance The International Solar Alliance is a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris. It has 123 Member and Signatory Countries. The Alliance works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promote solar power as a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral future. ISA’s mission is to unlock investments in solar by 2030 while reducing the cost of the technology and its financing. It promotes the use of solar energy in agriculture, health, transport, and power generation sectors. ISA Member Countries are driving change by enacting policies and regulations, sharing best practices, agreeing on common standards, and mobilising investments. Through this work, ISA has identified, 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; pooled demand for solar technology from different countries; and drove down costs; improved access to finance by reducing the risks and making the sector more attractive to private investment; increased access to solar training, data and insights for solar engineers and energy policymakers. With its advocacy for solar-powered solutions, ISA aims to transform lives, bring clean, reliable, and affordable energy to communities worldwide, fuel sustainable growth, and improve quality of life. On 6 December 2017, 15 countries signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement, making ISA the first international intergovernmental organisation to be headquartered in India. ISA is partnering with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development financial institutions (DFIs), private and public sector organisations, civil society, and other international institutions to deploy cost- effective and transformational solutions through solar energy, especially in the least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).**** Navin Sreejith (Release ID: 2143120)