Latest news with #OSOWOG
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
‘Silicon Valley of solar': Global solar alliance plans to establish research hub in India
By the end of the year, the International Solar Alliance will set up 17 centres of excellence in as many countries, and going ahead, establish a Global Capability Centre in India, akin to a 'Silicon Valley for solar', Ashish Khanna, Director General, ISA, said at lecture here on Wednesday. These 17 centres — Mr. Khanna did not disclose the names of the 17 countries — will provide testing, lab training, and a 'startup ecosystem' in 'Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-like' universities, and the capability centre would act as a 'hub' connecting all these centres, Mr. Khanna said at an event organised by think tank The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), adding, 'Those 17 could soon rise to 50 as several countries are looking to India to improve their human capability.' The International Solar Alliance is a collaborative body set up by India and France, conceptualised on the sidelines of the climate Conference of Parties in 2015 in Paris. It is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana and has a membership of around 100 countries, with the primary goal of encouraging the adoption of solar energy globally, and a stated mission to '...unlock $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs'. 'Several countries are looking to engineers from India to supply the vital human capital necessary to implement solar projects. This includes digital tenders, operation and maintenance, and all the reskilling that is needed in the world,' Mr. Khanna said. India has cumulatively installed about 119 GW (gigawatt) of solar capacity as of July 2025, according to official estimates. The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy in July said that India had achieved a 'milestone' of sourcing 50% of its total electric power capacity of about 484 GW from non-fossil fuel sources. About 48% of India's installed non-fossil power capacity is from solar energy. However, publicly available data show that the share of clean energy in the electricity actually supplied is below 30%, with nearly three-fourths still coming in from coal. In the days ahead, India would be looking to strengthen its regional interconnectivity systems, including the One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) system that will allow grids from different countries to supply electricity to each other. 'Initially, it might sound incredulous to connect a 2,000-km long undersea cable between India and the United Arab Emirates but both these countries have different peak hours of solar usage (and therefore can profitably trade the solar power produced in each country),' Mr. Khanna said.
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Business Standard
14 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India-West Asia undersea cable allows large trade: ISA DG Ashish Khanna
The 2,000-kilometre-long undersea cable project between India and the United Arab Emirates, part of the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is economically viable and could allow large-scale cross-border power trade, Ashish Khanna, director general of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Twenty-fourth Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Khanna said the regional interconnection between India and West Asia could address energy security, reduce dependence on costly storage technologies, and facilitate trading of up to 15,000 megawatts of electricity. Khanna stressed that OSOWOG would help countries diversify their energy mix, particularly smaller economies that remain dependent on diesel. 'We are going to help smaller countries that are still 80 per cent dependent on diesel get out of diesel by aggregating their procurement,' he said. ISA is promoting the creation of 'digital twins' for power utilities to optimise energy use. 'Early results are showing that it can actually reduce your renewable energy requirement by 20 per cent because that will optimally dispatch the power generated on the rooftop and in the fields,' he said. Khanna also flagged financing constraints for clean energy in developing nations. 'Of the $2.2 trillion that was spent last year on clean technology, less than 15% came to developing countries, and less than 2% came to Africa. One of the main reasons is the international private sector still perceives a relatively high risk of investing in developing countries,' he said. To address this, ISA has set up a global solar facility in GIFT City in Gujarat, which will design financial innovation structures for each continent, starting with Africa. 'An African solar facility starting with $200 million is giving guarantee for private sector to start investing in distributed renewable energy projects. In Nigeria, the Sovereign Investment Authority is partnering with us, leveraging our funds 30 to 40 times,' Khanna said.
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
International Solar Alliance moots a ‘Silicon Valley for solar' in India
By the end of the year, the International Solar Alliance will set up 17 centres of excellence in as many countries, and going ahead, establish a Global Capability Centre in India, akin to a 'Silicon Valley for solar', Ashish Khanna, Director General, ISA, said at lecture here on Wednesday. These 17 centres — Mr. Khanna did not disclose the names of the 17 countries — will provide testing, lab training, and a 'startup ecosystem' in 'Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-like' universities, and the capability centre would act as a 'hub' connecting all these centres, Mr. Khanna said at an event organised by think tank The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), adding, 'Those 17 could soon rise to 50 as several countries are looking to India to improve their human capability.' The International Solar Alliance is a collaborative body set up by India and France, conceptualised on the sidelines of the climate Conference of Parties in 2015 in Paris. It is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana and has a membership of around 100 countries, with the primary goal of encouraging the adoption of solar energy globally, and a stated mission to '...unlock $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs'. 'Several countries are looking to engineers from India to supply the vital human capital necessary to implement solar projects. This includes digital tenders, operation and maintenance, and all the reskilling that is needed in the world,' Mr. Khanna said. India has cumulatively installed about 119 GW (gigawatt) of solar capacity as of July 2025, according to official estimates. The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy in July said that India had achieved a 'milestone' of sourcing 50% of its total electric power capacity of about 484 GW from non-fossil fuel sources. About 48% of India's installed non-fossil power capacity is from solar energy. However, publicly available data show that the share of clean energy in the electricity actually supplied is below 30%, with nearly three-fourths still coming in from coal. In the days ahead, India would be looking to strengthen its regional interconnectivity systems, including the One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) system that will allow grids from different countries to supply electricity to each other. 'Initially, it might sound incredulous to connect a 2,000-km long undersea cable between India and the United Arab Emirates but both these countries have different peak hours of solar usage (and therefore can profitably trade the solar power produced in each country),' Mr. Khanna said.
Economic Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
India, Saudi Arabia mull high-voltage connect at the bottom of Arabian Sea
India and Saudi Arabia are working on a joint project which will highlight the power and depth of ties between the two countries. On a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Arab News, "We are now working on feasibility studies for electricity grid interconnectivity between India and Saudi Arabia and the wider region." ADVERTISEMENT The two countries will connect their grids with undersea cables passing through the Arabian Sea. Undersea cables allow power grids in different locations to be interconnected, enabling the sharing of electricity resources and balancing supply and demand. In 2023, both the countries signed an MoU to establish a general framework for cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection; exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies; co-development of projects; co-production of green/clean hydrogen and renewable energy; and also establishing secure, reliable and resilient supply chains of materials used in green/clean hydrogen and the renewable energy sector. Why the electricity grid connection is important The project has the potential to change India's status from a net buyer of Saudi oil and cooking gas (LPG) to an energy exporter with green power and hydrogen exports. Saudi Arabia is India's third-largest source for oil and the largest for will mark the first offshore link in pm Modi's 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' (OSOWOG) vision of a global grid for primarily green power. Proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 during the first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), OSOWOG envisions a globally interconnected grid aimed at transferring renewable energy across countries to achieve energy sustainability. ADVERTISEMENT The cross-border grid expansion aims to integrate renewable resources such as solar, wind, and hydro, which vary by region. By sharing these resources across interconnected grids, nations can better manage supply and demand peaks, improving grid stability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. India currently exchanges about 4,100 MW of electricity with neighboring countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and is based on the principle that "the sun never sets", allowing for continuous renewable energy generation across continents. The integration of electricity grids across borders will reduce investment costs, as interconnected systems can share backup resources, lowering the total reserve requirements. India is also in talks with the UAE and Oman as well as Singapore and Thailand for grid connectivity. ADVERTISEMENT 'The advantage will be that renewable energy will be available round the clock because they are in different time zones, so the sun always shines in different time zones,' then power minister RK Singh had told Arab News in an interview in 2023.'People in different time zones will be able to say that 'OK, I want renewable energy from Saudi Arabia between this time and this time, or I want renewable energy from India between this time and this time.' The prices will be quoted on the exchange people will be able to buy. That is a different world,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT How the undersea grid connection will workUndersea electric grid connections, also known as submarine power cables, are specialized cables used to transmit electricity across bodies of water. These are designed to carry high-voltage alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power under the water. High-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables are often used for longer distances where AC transmission becomes less efficient. Undersea cable installation is a complex and expensive process that requires specialized ships and interconnect is the AN ambitious and technically challenging proposition with far-reaching consequence since it will tie both the economies into knot. There are 485 undersea cables in operation worldwide, the longest being the 764-km Viking link between Britain and Denmark. ADVERTISEMENT There are 485 undersea power cables in operation worldwide, the longest being the Viking link between UK and Power Grid is planning the undersea interconnection worth up to Rs 40,000 crore with countries in the Middle East, a top official had told PTI last year. The company has a 'pulling station' near the Arabian Sea in Gujarat's Bhuj, which will be connected with a similar station on the shores of the Middle East country as well, he explained. A high voltage direct current cable will go from the seabed with a capacity of up to 2,500 MW, he said, adding that it will cost Rs 35,000-40,000 crore and will take up to six years to complete. Electricity grid connection through undersea cables is a decades-old idea. In 2008, India had proposed a 500 megawatt undersea power link with Sri Lanka across the Gulf of Mannar. PowerGrid had then pegged its cost at Rs 2,292 crore and said it could be completed in 42 months. But the proposal was shelved after Sri Lanka developed cold feet. India is still keen to revive that project. (With inputs from TOI) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India, Saudi Arabia mull high-voltage connect at the bottom of Arabian Sea
India and Saudi Arabia are working on a joint project which will highlight the power and depth of ties between the two countries. On a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Arab News, "We are now working on feasibility studies for electricity grid interconnectivity between India and Saudi Arabia and the wider region." The two countries will connect their grids with undersea cables passing through the Arabian Sea. Undersea cables allow power grids in different locations to be interconnected, enabling the sharing of electricity resources and balancing supply and demand. In 2023, both the countries signed an MoU to establish a general framework for cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection; exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies; co-development of projects; co-production of green/clean hydrogen and renewable energy; and also establishing secure, reliable and resilient supply chains of materials used in green/clean hydrogen and the renewable energy sector. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Interior design experts love these homes! Sneak a peek! HomeLane Get Quote Undo Why the electricity grid connection is important The project has the potential to change India's status from a net buyer of Saudi oil and cooking gas (LPG) to an energy exporter with green power and hydrogen exports. Saudi Arabia is India's third-largest source for oil and the largest for LPG. It will mark the first offshore link in pm Modi's 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' (OSOWOG) vision of a global grid for primarily green power. Live Events Proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 during the first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), OSOWOG envisions a globally interconnected grid aimed at transferring renewable energy across countries to achieve energy sustainability. The cross-border grid expansion aims to integrate renewable resources such as solar, wind, and hydro, which vary by region. By sharing these resources across interconnected grids, nations can better manage supply and demand peaks, improving grid stability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. India currently exchanges about 4,100 MW of electricity with neighboring countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. OSOWOG is based on the principle that "the sun never sets", allowing for continuous renewable energy generation across continents. The integration of electricity grids across borders will reduce investment costs, as interconnected systems can share backup resources, lowering the total reserve requirements. India is also in talks with the UAE and Oman as well as Singapore and Thailand for grid connectivity. 'The advantage will be that renewable energy will be available round the clock because they are in different time zones, so the sun always shines in different time zones,' then power minister RK Singh had told Arab News in an interview in 2023. 'People in different time zones will be able to say that 'OK, I want renewable energy from Saudi Arabia between this time and this time, or I want renewable energy from India between this time and this time.' The prices will be quoted on the exchange people will be able to buy. That is a different world,' he said. How the undersea grid connection will work Undersea electric grid connections, also known as submarine power cables, are specialized cables used to transmit electricity across bodies of water. These are designed to carry high-voltage alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power under the water. High-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables are often used for longer distances where AC transmission becomes less efficient. Undersea cable installation is a complex and expensive process that requires specialized ships and personnel. The interconnect is the AN ambitious and technically challenging proposition with far-reaching consequence since it will tie both the economies into knot. There are 485 undersea cables in operation worldwide, the longest being the 764-km Viking link between Britain and Denmark. There are 485 undersea power cables in operation worldwide, the longest being the Viking link between UK and Denmark. State-run Power Grid is planning the undersea interconnection worth up to Rs 40,000 crore with countries in the Middle East, a top official had told PTI last year. The company has a 'pulling station' near the Arabian Sea in Gujarat's Bhuj, which will be connected with a similar station on the shores of the Middle East country as well, he explained. A high voltage direct current cable will go from the seabed with a capacity of up to 2,500 MW, he said, adding that it will cost Rs 35,000-40,000 crore and will take up to six years to complete. Electricity grid connection through undersea cables is a decades-old idea. In 2008, India had proposed a 500 megawatt undersea power link with Sri Lanka across the Gulf of Mannar. PowerGrid had then pegged its cost at Rs 2,292 crore and said it could be completed in 42 months. But the proposal was shelved after Sri Lanka developed cold feet. India is still keen to revive that project.
