US keen to partner in International Solar Alliance projects

The United States has evinced "keen interest" to partner in International Solar Alliance's (ISA) projects and programmes, its Director General said here on Wednesday.

"India and the US are equally interested in ISA. They both have collaborative projects in the renewable energy sector. The US has shown keen interest to partner in the ISA programme and projects, but for formal membership they have their internal processes and procedures," Upendra Tripathy, ISA's Interim Director General, told media persons here.

He was talking on the sidelines of the Bengal Chamber-organised 10th Environment and Energy Conclave.

The ISA is likely to be recognised as the multilateral agency of the United Nations by this year-end.

"Right now, it is a de facto body. It will become a legal body on December 9," he said.

In June, after the withdrawal by the US, India and France had pledged themselves to take the Paris accord on climate change forward.

Asked about the other countries that need to come aboard, Tripathy said: "Except Brazil and Peru, entire Latin America has not signed. We haven't got many Arab countries. We have to have a lot of Asian countries including China, Malaysia... They all have to come on board."

He stressed that the process of availing membership in the India-led initiative is sovereign and voluntary.

"We are pursuading. It's a long process," he said.

To a question on possibility of China's participation in the ISA amid the Doklam standoff, he said if China came on board, it would be the biggest beneficiary.

"This is a long journey. In (installing) 1,000GW of solar (by 2030), China will be the biggest beneficiary out of this as they are the ones selling the panels. They do realise that."

The ISA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francoise Hollande in November 2015. It aims to channel $300 billion in 10 years to promote renewable energy projects under a global mega fund for clean energy.

There are a total of 38 signatories to the Alliance, out of which eight countries have ratified.

--IANS

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