The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is aiming to undertake 3 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects with member countries and mobilise around $1 billion in financing in the next five years. The ninth session of the ISA’s Assembly — the highest decision-making body — also took place along with the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo (BRESE) 2026, where India was elected President for the third consecutive term while France retained the Vice-President position.
ISA Director General Ashish Khanna told businessline: “We aim to deploy around 3 GW of RE capacities in member countries, and also aim to mobilise around $1 billion in the next five years.” Earlier, the Minister of New & Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, elaborated on the organisation’s financing initiatives, such as the $200 million Africa Solar Facility, which includes India’s commitment of roughly $25 million to expand affordable solar access.
Besides, the Minister also highlighted the $300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund, which can be scaled up. Asked about the West Asia conflict and how ISA is working to alleviate energy stress in member countries, Khanna pointed out that most countries are grappling with higher costs.
“The more important dimension is that tariffs in small island countries are high. For instance, I was in Fiji two months ago, and before that in Mauritius. The average utility tariff there is almost ₹25-30 because of the price of diesel and oil. Therefore, the case for solar and storage, which is as low as ₹3-4 in India, could easily be ₹10 there, and will still be one-third of what they are spending,” he added.
Most of these countries are now more interested in scaling up solar and storage. Same is for jobs. African countries now want to do a lot more solarisation on agriculture because that’s where the job will come, and that also is much cheaper due to solar and storage, he added.
“So, our main focus is on enabling private sector investment through getting the right policy and right instruments, because that is where these countries are really requesting support,” Khanna emphasised. ISA-supported initiatives in Fiji, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles demonstrated how solar energy could strengthen livelihoods and climate resilience by powering healthcare facilities and schools, providing clean drinking water and supporting agricultural cold storage.
The Alliance is also advancing aggregated solar and storage opportunities, beginning with Mauritius, to create scalable models for Small Island Developing States.
Published on November 3, 2026
