ONE SUN ONE WORLD ONE GRID

Amid the coronavirus, India has invited companies for the project of “ONE SUN, ONE WORLD, ONE GRID”. The plan focuses on a framework for facilitating global cooperation, building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources (mainly solar energy) that can be seamlessly shared.

The vision behind the OSOWOG is ‘The Sun Never Sets’ and is a constant at some geographical location, globally, at any given point of time and to utilize solar power when the sun is not shining in other parts of the world by building a common transmission system.

At the Paris climate agreement in 2015, India pledged to enhance its forest cover which will absorb 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030. India also promised to increase the share of non-fossil fuel-based electricity to 40% by 2030.

Citing the above statement, Gautam Adani the CEO of Adani green announced on 10th June 2020 that Adani green bagged world’s largest solar bid for power plant of 8,000 MW ( megawatt) with investment of roughly $6 billion.

To achieve the above-stated objectives, India entered into an International Solar Alliance (ISA) with France on 30th November 2015 in Paris and created a headquarters for the same called National institute for solar energy in Gurugram, Haryana.

The ISA was created by India and France but now it has a majority of countries that lay between the tropic of cancer and tropic of Capricorn and consists of 67 countries.

Advantage of One Sun One World One Grid Concept

• If this project is successfully completed then with the help of one grid concept, electricity can be easily supplied to countries that are having electricity deficit, especially African countries.

• It will give a boost to the renewable energy sector which will lead to increased investments creating better technology, skills, infrastructure, etc.

• This project will not only help in supplying electricity but also create employment, improve the economy, mitigating sanitation problems, etc in poor, underdeveloped countries.

• The proposed integration would lead to reduced project costs, higher efficiencies and increased asset utilization for all the participating entities.

The ISA is considered to be the future OPEC for meeting the energy needs of the world as solar energy is expected to play the same role oil has been playing over decades. The ISA can create a golden opportunity for India to lead the world in the solar sector which can bring India to par with other powerful nations.

The Concept of One Sun One World One Grid is Distributed into 3 phases

Phase 1

• Middle East Asia, South Asia, and South-East Asia (MEASEA) will be connected in the first phase.

• The initial phase involves connecting Oman to India via the sea route, which will be one of the most challenging parts.

Phase 2

• After the completion of the MEASEA grid, it will be connected with African power pools and other renewable energy power of the countries located in Africa.

Phase 3

• Global interconnection; thus, supplying excess electricity to other nations who are deprived of the same.

India is pondering to create a world solar bank that would be headquartered in India having an initial equity infusion of $10 Billion to kick off this project.

Thinking politically and countering China and its One belt, One world initiative which would connect China to European markets via the land route. This one sun, one world, one grid concept by India can act as a great initiative to stand equally powered against China.

Atmanirbhar touch to OSOWOG

The initiative of One sun, one world, one unit by Indian government can make India Atmanirbhar in the solar energy sector.

India is heavily dependent on China for the procurement of components to build the solar grid. It is said 70% of the suppliers are Chinese firms and India has till date imported $16 billion worth of solar equipment's from China.

To achieve self sufficiency in the manufacturing of solar power equipment, India needs to develop policies with focus on three main issues;

1. Development of manufacturing of semiconductors in India which poses as one of the most crucial component in setting up of solar powers.

2. Government policy to subsidize solar manufacturing sector

3. Reduced cost of capital i.e. cheaper loans

Write-up by: Samarth Desai