GEAPP and International Solar Alliance Establish Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Solar Energy Initiatives

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) is advancing solar energy initiatives in India. In a significant move, GEAPP has partnered with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to establish a Multi-Donor Trust Fund aimed at mobilizing $100 million for impactful solar energy projects. This collaboration seeks to accelerate India’s clean energy transition by addressing financing gaps and strengthening institutional capacity.

Key Initiatives and Funding

As part of the trust fund, GEAPP and ISA have launched two flagship initiatives:

Digitalization of Utilities for Energy Transition (DUET): Focuses on modernizing grid systems by developing a technology suite with smart sensors for real-time data analysis.
Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE 2.0): Encourages innovative solutions to overcome energy transition challenges.
These initiatives aim to scale up solar energy solutions across ISA member countries.

Project Management and Oversight

The ISA will lead the strategic direction of these solar energy initiatives, while GEAPP will oversee governance through its Project Management Unit. This includes coordinating fundraising efforts and leveraging expertise in energy transition planning to ensure projects align with member countries’ needs.

Investment Impact and Goals

Since its inception in 2021, GEAPP has committed $464 million to 130 projects across 40 countries, mobilizing over $6.1 billion in capital. These projects aim to:

Improve energy access for more than 50 million people and businesses.
Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 43 million tons.
Directly benefit over 2 million individuals globally.

Addressing Electricity Access Gaps

India has achieved significant progress in expanding electricity access, connecting over 800 million people since 2001. However, around 2.5% of households remain without electricity. GEAPP emphasizes the importance of distributed renewable energy (DRE) in bridging this gap and enhancing energy access for low-income communities.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Project

In June, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission approved India’s first commercial standalone BESS project. This initiative, a collaboration between GEAPP, IndiGrid, and BSES Rajdhani Power Limited, received a concessional loan from GEAPP covering 70% of the project cost. Expected to be operational by early 2025, the project will deliver reliable power to over 12,000 low-income customers at significantly reduced tariffs.

Digitalization and Smart Grids

The DUET initiative focuses on integrating advanced technology into grid systems. By digitally mapping grid assets and utilizing smart sensors, DUET enables real-time load flow analysis and monitoring of voltage and current. This approach aims to:

Reduce transmission and distribution losses.
Facilitate the deployment of BESS.
Integrate Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) into the grid.

Abbreviations:

GEAPP: Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet.
ISA: International Solar Alliance, promoting solar energy initiatives.
BESS: Battery Energy Storage Systems, essential for energy management.
DUET: Digitalization of Utilities for Energy Transition, enhancing grid efficiency.
ENTICE 2.0: A platform for innovative solutions in energy transition.

This partnership underscores GEAPP and ISA’s commitment to advancing clean energy solutions, improving energy access, and fostering innovation in renewable energy technologies.