The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is set to host the Seventh Regional Committee Meeting (RCM) for the Asia and the Pacific Region from 15–17 July 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The three-day gathering will bring together government officials, academic institutions, think tanks, regional partners, and industry leaders to shape a collaborative agenda for scaling up solar energy adoption across one of the world’s most diverse and rapidly growing regions, according to the press release by India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
With the theme ‘Advancing Solar Cooperation Across a Region of Diversity and Opportunity’, the RCM will serve as a platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and actionable outcomes to strengthen Asia-Pacific’s leadership in the global solar movement.
Highlighting the region’s pivotal role in the clean energy transition, Ashish Khanna, Director General of ISA, noted,
“The Asia and the Pacific Region is central to the global energy shift. The Colombo meeting is a vital opportunity to co-develop scalable, investment-ready solar solutions across technologies and geographies. Whether it’s aggregating demand for SIDS, expanding regional power grids, scaling institutional capacity, or enabling green hydrogen and energy storage, this forum will lay the groundwork for a more resilient solar future rooted in partnerships and local leadership.”
Chaired by the Vice President from the Asia-Pacific Region, representing Sri Lanka, the meeting will align regional solar strategies with ISA’s evolving vision, structured around four key pillars:
1. Catalytic Finance Hub
Focus on expanding blended and catalytic finance mechanisms to de-risk solar investments, with plans to replicate ISA’s successful models from Africa across Asia and the Pacific.
2. Global Capability Centre and Digitisation
Advancing the concept of a ‘Silicon Valley for Solar’ through STAR Centres and the SolarX Startup Challenge, offering targeted technical support and fostering innovation among member countries.
3. Regional and Country-Level Platforms
Expanding digital tools like the SIDS platform for e-tendering and e-procurement, helping aggregate demand and improve market access for small island and developing nations.
4. Technology Roadmap and Policy Innovation
The RCM will support the adoption of cutting-edge solar technologies, diversification of supply chains, and integration of solutions like green hydrogen and long-duration energy storage. This work builds on ISA’s collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which was showcased at the Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) 2025 in Manila. Reports released at ACEF—including frameworks for green hydrogen hubs and energy storage roadmaps—will directly inform the RCM’s discussions.
Thematic Sessions at the Colombo RCM Will Explore:
Operationalising the SIDS Solar Platform, including case studies and governance models for a transparent regional solar marketplace.
Building Institutional Capacity through STAR Centres and digital learning tools, with successful models from Bhutan, Papua New Guinea, and Kiribati.
Accelerating Green Hydrogen, Energy Storage, and E-Mobility, especially in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and SIDS.
Promoting Regional Interconnections for solar energy trade, including financing frameworks and leveraging existing grid infrastructure.
The meeting will also feature the signing of Country Partnership Frameworks and agreements with regional and international organisations to bolster ISA’s impact and widen the scope of solar collaboration in Asia and the Pacific.
Another key agenda item includes the establishment of new regional STAR Centres, which will support technical training, institutional development, and long-term solar deployment goals in the region.
This meeting marks an important milestone in ISA’s regional strategy, reaffirming its commitment to forging practical solutions, inclusive partnerships, and long-term progress under its Framework Agreement and aligned with global climate goals.
(Source: PIB)
