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As Africa accelerates its shift toward renewable energy, solar power has emerged as the cornerstone of the continent’s clean energy future — and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is leading the charge. Backed by a rapidly expanding portfolio of solar projects, ISA is now calling on the Indian private sector to play a central role in transforming Africa’s solar landscape. Speaking at the Solar X Accelerator workshop in Mauritius, Barakat Ahmed, ISA’s Regional Programs Head for Africa, emphasized that solar energy presents the most scalable and sustainable solution for the continent’s power challenges. “Africa is at the heart of a solar revolution. India’s expertise in solar electrification, particularly in rural and underserved regions, is exactly what Africa needs,” Ahmed noted. Currently, ISA has 30 solar-centric projects either underway or in development across the continent. These include the solarisation of schools, hospitals, government buildings, and agricultural infrastructure such as cold storage and solar water pumps — each designed to boost energy access and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The scale of ambition is significant. ISA is negotiating with up to ten African countries — including Ethiopia, Guinea, Niger, Zambia, Mali, and Mauritius — to roll out solar infrastructure projects valued between $50 million and $400 million. This solar-first strategy is timely, as over 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. With its vast geography and decentralized populations, Africa is ideally suited for off-grid solar solutions such as rooftop panels and solar home systems. To boost investor confidence, ISA is actively working to de-risk projects and improve clarity for Indian firms. Although several Indian companies have expressed interest recently, hesitancy remains due to challenges on the ground. ISA aims to bridge that gap by creating an investment-friendly environment tailored to solar innovators and developers. Supporting this effort is ISA’s Global Solar Facility (GSF), which just received a $35 million funding boost — including a proposed $25 million from the Indian government and $10 million from ISA itself. The fund, designed to unlock capital for underserved solar markets, has also attracted support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. The GSF aims to enable clean energy access for 200 million Africans by 2030. India’s success story in solar energy — from large-scale grid installations to rural mini-grids — is now seen as a replicable model for Africa. Union Power and Renewable Energy Minister RK Singh emphasized this alignment, calling on private players to step in and help achieve universal electricity access through solar investments. With 123 member countries, ISA is fast becoming the world’s most influential multilateral solar energy platform. Its mission is clear: to harness the sun’s power to uplift underserved regions and foster sustainable development — starting with Africa. |
