PM Modi Calls For 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' At COP26; What Does It Mean?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated at the COP26 global climate meeting in Glasgow this week that solar power can help restore the balance of the environment. He advocated for a worldwide solar power system by calling for "One Sun, One World, One Grid" during the conference on "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment".

He called for the new initiative to improve the viability of solar power. Additionally, he stated that India's space agency, ISRO, will soon give the world a calculator that will allow anyone to calculate the solar energy potential of any location on the planet.

PM Modi told world leaders at the UN event on the sidelines of the climate summit: "The industrial revolution was powered by fossil fuels. Several countries prospered by the use of fossil fuels but it also left our Earth and environment poorer. The race for fossil fuels also created geopolitical tensions. However, today, technology has presented us with a better alternative."

During his speech, Modi also pointed out that everything was born from the Sun, that the star is the only source of energy and that solar energy can take care of everyone.

He told the world leaders present at the event that “One Sun, One World, One Grid will not only reduce storage needs but also enhance the viability of solar projects.”

“This creative initiative will not only reduce carbon footprints and energy cost but also open a new avenue for cooperation between different countries and regions,” the speech added.

Along with Modi, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson on 2 November also released the One Sun declaration, which stated, “Realising the vision of One Sun, One World, One Grid through interconnected green grids can be transformational, enabling all of us to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement to prevent dangerous climate change.”

“…these efforts can stimulate green investments and create millions of good jobs,” it added.

However, the declaration has been endorsed by 80 International Solar Alliance (ISA) member countries. Citing the main drawback to the OSOWOG effort Modi said: “Solar energy is totally clean and sustainable. Challenge is that this energy is only available during the daytime and is dependent on the weather.” But he added that “through a worldwide grid, clean energy can be transmitted to anywhere and at anytime”.

The Indian Prime Minister also said during his speech that he proposed the OSOWOG plan in the ISA's First Assembly which took place in October 2018. However, he further expressed hope that by working together on this endeavour, countries will be able to establish a shared and powerful global grid.

“I am hopeful that a common and strong global grid can be developed through cooperation between OSOWOG and Green Grid Initiatives. Indian space agency ISRO is going to provide a solar calculator application to the world,” he added.

Clean Energy

According to ISA, the OSOWOG-GGI will bring together a worldwide coalition of governments, international financial and technical organisations, legislators, power system operators and thought leaders to speed up the building of the new infrastructure required for a future powered by clean energy.

By 2030, the ISA wants to raise $1 trillion in investment to help developing nations expand their solar power infrastructure to meet their energy needs.

The initiative's main areas of focus will include:

- Investing in solar, wind, storage, and other renewable energy generating in areas rich in renewable resources to sustain a global grid.

- Building long-distance cross-border transmission lines to connect renewable energy plants.

- Modernising power systems by inventing and applying cutting-edge methodologies and technologies.

- Facilitating the worldwide transition to zero-emission automobiles by incorporating electric vehicles' role in improving grid flexibility.

- Promoting investment in solar mini-grids and off-grid systems to assist vulnerable communities in gaining access to safe, affordable, and dependable electricity.

- Creating new financial instruments and market frameworks for solar grid infrastructure.

India and the UK decided in May 2021 to merge the Green Grids Initiative with the One Sun One World One Grid initiative and launch GGI-OSOWOG at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow.

The project aspires to combine a large growth in solar and wind power with international networks on every continent, connecting energy-rich places such as sunny deserts and windy coastlines, according to Climate Parliament, one of the GGI-OSOWOG partner organisations.

The objective is to assure a dependable, robust and cheap source of clean energy for everyone, combining large-scale solar power stations, wind farms and grids with rooftop solar, as well as community grids, including village mini-grids.