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Investments in solar energy in developing countries have declined by 20% on an annual basis so far this year. Despite the need for energy transition, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) director-general Ashish Khanna believes that a collaborative effort among private sector, governments, and regulators is essential to overcome this challenge. Khanna thinks that entrepreneurs from Africa and Asia-Pacific regions can significantly contribute to providing technological ideas for energy transition in other parts of the world.
The ISA, in partnership with Business Mauritius, recently launched the SolarX Accelerator Programme in Mauritius, a two-day event that brought together 35 startups from across Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. The program aims to support, empower, and guide startups focused on solar energy and renewable technologies, accelerating the development and deployment of innovative solar solutions.
Khanna noted that to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, the ISA launched SolarX in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. He emphasized that overall investment in clean-tech solar energy has decreased by 20% in developing countries compared to last year. The SolarX Global Accelerator 2025 aims to address this challenge by connecting entrepreneurs with investors, providing tailored mentorship, fundraising training, and access to financing opportunities.
According to Khanna, entrepreneurs from Africa and Asia-Pacific regions can contribute to a valuable transfer of technological ideas, which can aid the energy transition in various countries. For instance, a solution developed in Nigeria could have practical applications in India, while a solar application in Fiji could work across all the islands in the Pacific.
The SolarX Accelerator also attracted the attention of Kevin Ramkaloan, CEO of Business Mauritius, which represents over 12,000 local businesses. He said that the accelerator prioritizes energy transition, innovation, and unlocking new markets on the continent.
The SolarX Startup Challenge was launched by the ISA and Invest India at COP27 in 2022 to foster entrepreneurship and develop scalable solar solutions across ISA member countries. The challenge bridges the gap between solar potential and deployment, empowering local innovators, enhancing regional capacity, and advancing clean energy transitions. By crowdsourcing cost-effective solutions, the challenge aims to accelerate the global shift to renewable energy while fostering local entrepreneurship and building capacity across the solar value chain.
The International Solar Alliance is a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France to improve energy access and security worldwide and promote solar power as a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral future.