ISA, IIT Delhi Sign Pact To Train Solar Energy Professionals Across Global South

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi on 25 February signed a Framework for Action (FFA) to expand cooperation in renewable energy training, academic collaboration, and human resource development across ISA's 120-plus member countries.

The agreement was signed by ISA Director General Ashish Khanna and IIT Delhi Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee in New Delhi.

The partnership builds on an existing collaboration between ISA and IIT Delhi's Department of Energy Science and Engineering, which has so far supported an M.Tech programme in Renewable Energy Technologies and Management for professionals from 18 developing countries across Africa and Asia Pacific.

Over the past five years, more than 100 students have completed the programme and taken up roles in solar deployment and energy access across their home regions.

Under the new framework, the two institutions will expand into four areas: a Train-the-Trainers programme to build capacity at ISA's Solar Technology Application Resource Centres (STAR-Cs); new academic pathways including a one-year postgraduate diploma, a Master's in Public Policy, and a Ph.D. track in solar energy; joint research in solar resource assessment, quality standards, and emerging technologies; and co-hosted workshops and knowledge exchange activities.

The postgraduate diploma programme will be developed in collaboration with France's Institut National de l'Énergie Solaire, and will incorporate AI, machine learning, and blockchain applications in distributed solar energy systems.

Khanna said the initiative "has the potential to transform the human capability on solar energy in Global South countries."

Banerjee said the partnership would help "build a sustainable pathway to net zero" for India and the developing world.

ISA, launched by India and France at COP21 in 2015, works with member countries to scale solar energy deployment through financing, capacity building, and policy support.

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