The Seventh Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) opened today in Santiago, Chile, reaffirming regional commitment to accelerating solar energy deployment and strengthening cooperation in clean energy initiatives.
Hosted by the Chilean Ministry of Energy, the meeting brought together high-level representatives from across the region. Chile’s Minister of Energy, H.E. Diego Pardow Lorenzo, welcomed delegates and emphasized Chile’s transition from hydro-dependence to solar leadership. “Our goal now is to expand solar operational hours through storage and ensure benefits reach our most vulnerable households. Regional cooperation is key to achieving a resilient, low-cost, and sustainable energy future,” he said.
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Kerryne Zennelle James, Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment, and Renewable Energy of Grenada, who currently serves as Vice President of the ISA LAC Region. She called for stronger leadership to translate ambition into action. “LAC already sources 65% of its power from renewables—double the global average—but progress remains uneven for small island states. ISA’s shift from ambition to action is timely and necessary,” she stated.
Representing the ISA Assembly Presidency, H.E. Abhilasha Joshi, India’s Ambassador to Chile, highlighted India’s progress in solar energy, noting the country has achieved its 2030 renewable energy targets five years early. She emphasized India’s commitment to South-South cooperation and supporting LAC nations through shared technologies, finance, and innovation.
ISA Director General Ashish Khanna outlined four key pillars guiding ISA’s regional engagement: mobilizing finance, strengthening institutions, enabling regional platforms, and scaling innovation. With 26 LAC countries now members of ISA—up 50% since 2021—Khanna announced a series of impactful initiatives and partnerships:
- ISA-Grenada Country Partnership Framework (CPF): The second CPF in the region (following Cuba), this agreement outlines strategic collaboration on solar policy, deployment, regulation, and technology.
- SIDS Solar Platform Launch: Nine Caribbean nations—Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago—signed a Declaration of Intent to launch this World Bank-supported platform aimed at lowering costs through joint procurement and enhancing solar access and resilience for island nations.
- Renewed ISA-OLADE MoU: Reinforces cooperation in areas such as finance mobilization (e.g., via the Global Solar Facility), policy harmonization, solar applications across sectors, and regional training programs.
- ISA-OECS Strategic Partnership: The agreement will enhance energy access and resilience through solar deployment, capacity building, and financing support tailored to small island states.
- SolarX Startup Challenge 2025 (LAC Edition): The third regional edition of ISA’s innovation challenge is accepting applications until August 15, aiming to find scalable, cost-effective solar solutions to address regional energy challenges.
In a keynote address, H.E. Paulo Roberto Soares Pacheco, Brazilian Ambassador to Chile and representative of the upcoming COP30 Presidency, emphasized the link between energy access and climate resilience. “We need a global ‘mutirão’—a collective effort—to accelerate the energy transition through joint action and shared responsibility,” he said, reinforcing the call for global solidarity.
The meeting marks a pivotal moment for the ISA’s LAC strategy, advancing solar development through concrete projects, inclusive platforms, and multilateral cooperation—turning solar ambition into real-world action across the region.
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