India, UK launch plan to link world's power grids at COP26 summit

Addressing the session on ‘Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment’ at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, the Prime Minister also said that ISRO will provide a solar calculator application to the world, which will help measure the solar power potential of any place on the earth. This application would help in deciding the location of solar projects and will also strengthen the 'One Sun, One World, One Grid'.

He said his vision of a 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' of many decades had got concrete shape with the initiatives from the International Solar Alliance and the UK's Green Grid Initiative.

In a comment on the race for fossil fuels by countries, he said that the industrial revolution got its energy from fossil fuels, which made some countries very prosperous, but it made the earth and the environment very poor.

“The race for fossil fuels also led to geo political tensions. But today technology has given us a new alternative,” referring to OSOWOG.

He referred to the Surya Upanishad, and quoted a shloka from it: सूर्याद् भवन्ति भूतानि, सूर्येण पालितानि तु॥ (Suryaad bhavanti bhutani, suryen palitani tu)In other words, everything has originated from the Sun, the source of all energy is the Sun, and everything is sustained by the energy of the Sun).

The PM said that ever since life originated on Earth, the life cycle of all living beings, and their routine, has been linked to the sunrise and sunset.

“Till the time this natural connect continued, our planet remained healthy. But in the modern times, man in the race to overtake the cycle set by the sun, has disturbed the natural balance, and caused great damage to his environment. If we are to re-establish a balanced life with nature, the path of this will be illuminated by our sun.

“To save the future of mankind we have to again move with the sun.”

He said the quantum of energy mankind uses in one year, the sun gives the same amount of energy to the earth in one hour.

“And this unlimited energy is completely clean and sustainable.”

He said the only challenge is that this solar energy is available only in the day time and is also dependent on the weather.

The PM said that the One Sun, One World, One Grid is the solution to this challenge.

“Clean energy from a world-wide grid will be available everywhere at all times. This will also reduce the need for storage and increase the viability of solar projects. This initiative will not only reduce the carbon footprint and cost of energy, but will also open a new avenue of cooperation between different regions and countries.”

He said he was confident that the synergy of One Sun: One World: One Grid and Green-Grid Initiatives will lead to the development of a cohesive and robust global grid.

“I also want to inform that India’s space agency ISRO will provide a solar calculator application, which based on satellite data, will be able to measure the solar power potential of any part of the earth. This app will help to decide on the location of solar power projects, and will greatly OSOWOG," he announced.