Forging an effective group of over 100 sunshine countries as a block to get a better deal in the growing renewable energy market, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with French President Francois Hollande on Monday launched an International Solar Alliance on the sidelines of the climate summit.
The concept of the alliance was to present these nations as an effective group to get finance and technological support from investors for the solar energy market. Most of the countries of the alliance get nearly 300 days of good sunshine in a year and therefore they are most suited to move on the solar energy path if they get cutting-edge technology and adequate finance for investment.
Speaking after the formal launch, Modi said, “In the Indian tradition, sun is the source of all forms of energy. As Rig Veda says, Sun God is the soul of all beings, moving and non-moving. Today, when the energy sources and excesses of our industrial age have put our planet in peril, we must turn to the sun to power our future”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Francois Hollande, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar during the International Solar Alliance in Paris on Monday. )PTI Photo)
"This day is the sunrise of new hope – not just for clean energy, but for villages and homes still in darkness", Modi said.
The headquarters of the alliance will be located at the National Institute of Solar Energy in Gurgaon, India.
It is expected that the partners of the alliance will significantly augment solar power generation in their respective countries with a view to contributing to sustainable development by moving on a clean energy growth path.
Grammy award winner Ricky Kej and other Grammy artists played at the launch of the alliance. None of the artistes charged professional fees for this endeavour dedicated to the cause of environmental consciousness.
TNN
