Q. Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) ?

Model Answer: 

The Green Grid Initiative was launched at the World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November 2021. This initiative aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy across the world by creating a global network of interconnected grids.

Purpose of the Green Grid Initiative:

• Facilitating the deployment of renewable energy: The Green Grid Initiative aims to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy by creating a global network of interconnected grids. This network would enable the seamless transmission of electricity from renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to consumers around the world.
• Reducing carbon emissions: The Green Grid Initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions by promoting the use of renewable energy sources, which are low or zero-carbon. By creating a global network of interconnected grids, the initiative aims to increase the use of renewable energy and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.
• Enhancing energy security: The Green Grid Initiative aims to enhance energy security by diversifying the sources of energy and reducing the reliance on a single source or region.
• Supporting sustainable development: The Green Grid Initiative aims to support sustainable development by promoting the use of renewable energy and reducing the environmental impact of energy generation.

Origin of the Idea in the International Solar Alliance (ISA):

The idea of creating a global network of interconnected grids was first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2018. The ISA is a treaty-based international organization that was jointly launched by India and France in 2015. The organization aims to promote solar energy deployment in 121 countries that lie between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

In 2018, the ISA launched the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative, which aimed to create a global network of interconnected grids to enable the seamless transmission of solar power across the world. The OSOWOG initiative was based on the idea that the sun is always shining somewhere in the world, and by creating a global network of interconnected grids, solar power could be transmitted to areas that need it the most.

The Green Grid Initiative builds upon the OSOWOG initiative and aims to create a global network of interconnected grids that enable the transmission of not just solar power, but all forms of renewable energy.

Conclusion:

The Green Grid Initiative, launched at the World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November 2021, aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy across the world by creating a global network of interconnected grids. The initiative builds upon the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative launched by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2018. The Green Grid Initiative aims to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions, enhance energy security, and support sustainable development.