Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson jointly launched the ambitious Green Grids Initiative (GGI) to ensure delivery of clean electricity generated through solar and wind projects on Tuesday at the COP26.
The Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One Grid” (GGI-OSOWOG), has been hailed as one of the leading initiatives at the COP26 Glasgow summit. This will give a boost to production and transmission of clean energy, besides making it accessible to the poor and also driving down power costs globally.
One Sun, One World, One Grid
Envisioning a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy green grids, PM @narendramodi launched the Green Grids Initiative- One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG), jointly with UK PM @BorisJohnson today at #COP26. https://t.co/UEF7Z0xZPk pic.twitter.com/IJffYJwgnb
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 2, 2021
This initiative takes forward India's International Solar Alliance (ISA) project, a joint project with France, to ensure that not only is clean energy produced but is also made available across continents through interlinked solar and wind farms. It improves energy access for poor communities by linking up small and big grids on all continents.
The main thrust of the GGI-OSOWOG will be the formation of a single global grid, already outlined in the ISA.
The two Prime Ministers unveiled the ‘One Sun Declaration’ setting out a shared vision of harnessing clean power globally.
Modi announced that the Indian space agency ISRO has come up with a solar calculator app that will be useful in deciding location of solar projects.
Modi quoted from an ancient Indian text, Suryopanishad, saying: "The energy required by the humans across the whole world in the whole year, the sun disseminates that much in just one hour. For a balanced path, we will need to look at the Sun."
At the launch, Johnson said: “The UK is working hand in hand with our friends in India to transform the future of the power sector and ensure clean and reliable electricity is accessible everywhere by the end of this decade. It’s fantastic that over 80 countries have backed our newly launched Green Grids Initiative, whose collaboration will not only see greater growth, jobs and investment in our global green future, but also make sure no one is left without access to energy.”
Modi added that, "If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these interconnected transnational grids are going to be critical solutions. I congratulate the International Solar Alliance and the UK COP Presidency for bringing it nearer to implementation.”
The GGI-OSOWOG will bring together a global coalition of energy grid stakeholders–mainly governments and businesses, to create and accelerate grids with a view to ensuring universal access to sustainable energy. The initiative will also help in making clean energy transition faster, cheaper and easier for all.
The Indian stand for a better climate at the COP26 summit has surprised many. Climate scientists told India Narrative that the country has set ambitious goals for itself and also breathed life into a meet which had set off on a lacklustre note.
