Spain Joins International Solar Alliance As Its Newest Member

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), a collaborative platform to increase deployment of solar energy technologies recently announced the addition of Spain as its 99th member. The grouping was formed to bring energy access, ensure energy security, and drive energy transition in its member countries. India is a founding member of the multilateral Alliance. The entry of Spain into the ISA marks a key milestone, as Spain is among the top countries in Europe when it comes to integration of solar energy, with ambitious plans to take it ahead as well. 

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Spain handed over the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Instrument of Ratification, during the meeting of Ambassador José María Ridao Domínguez of Spain with the Head of Depository, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry Abhishek Singh in New Delhi.

Last year in 2023, Romania officially joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as its 118th member country, signaling a robust commitment to advancing solar energy and contributing to global climate action. Romania, under the leadership of Klaus Werner Iohannis, President of Romania, formally signed the framework agreement of the ISA.

The ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts against climate change through the deployment of solar energy solutions. It was conceptualized on the sidelines of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Paris in 2015.

Key goals include making available a trillion dollars in financing for renewable energy, and consolidating demand in developing countries to drive down prices that make renewable energy more accessible to consumers. The alliance has met with some success in this regards, especially with solar pumps. It is expected to remain a critical non-China grouping to support the spread of solar power as well as broader climate goals in the coming decade.