1. What is the One Sun One World One Grid project?

“If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these interconnected transnational grids are
going to be critical solutions,” Modi said in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Modi said the only challenge with the OSOWOG initiative is that this energy is only available during the
daytime and is dependent on the weather. “Solar energy is totally clean and sustainable. Challenge is
that this energy is only available during the daytime and is dependent on the weather. ‘One Sun, One
World & One Grid’ is the solution to this problem. Through a worldwide grid, clean energy can be
transmitted to anywhere & anytime,” he said.

PM Modi reiterated that the idea for the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative was put
forth by him at the First Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in October 2018.

About OSOWOG:

The vision behind OSOWOG is ‘The Sun Never Sets. It is a constant at some geographical location, across
the globe, at any given point of time. This is the most ambitious scheme undertaken by India and is
significant in terms of economic benefits. It has been taken up under the technical assistance program of
the World Bank. This plan will also leverage the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

The proposal is aimed at addressing the issue of reliability of supply from solar power plants, which do
not generate electricity after the sun has set. A transnational grid would allow countries to source solar
power from regions where it is daytime to meet their green energy needs even when their own installed
solar capacity is not generating energy.

OSOWOG is also aimed at addressing the issue of high cost of energy storage. Power and renewable
energy minister RK Singh has underscored the point that the high cost of energy storage is a key
challenge to boosting the use of renewable energy and that the OSOWOG initiative is a possible solution
for driving down the need for storage, which in effect will reduce the costs of the energy transition.

The GGI-OSOWOG will bring together a global coalition of governments, international financial and
technical organisations, legislators, power system operators and knowledge leaders to accelerate the
construction of the new infrastructure needed for a world powered by clean energy, according to ISA.

ISA also aims to mobilize US$1 trillion of funding by 2030 to assist developing countries in expanding
their solar power grids to meet their energy needs.
According to the One Sun declaration, the main areas of work of the initiative will be: investing in solar,
wind, storage and other renewable energy generation in locations endowed with renewable resources
for supporting a global grid; building long-distance cross-border transmission lines to connect renewable
energy generators; developing and deploying cutting edge techniques and technologies to modernise
power systems; supporting the global transition to zero emission vehicles through incorporating the role
of electric vehicles to help improve grid flexibility; attracting investment into solar mini-grids and off-grid
systems to help vulnerable communities gain access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy; developing
innovative financial instruments, market structures for solar grid infrastructure.

According to Climate Parliament, one of the partner organisations working on GGI-OSOWOG, the
initiative aims to combine a massive increase in solar and wind power with international grids on every
continent, connecting energy rich locations such as sunny deserts and windy coastlines. Combine large-
scale solar power stations, wind farms and grids with rooftop solar and community grids, including
village mini grids, to ensure a reliable, resilient, and affordable supply of clean energy for all.

2. What are the challenges to the OSOWOG project?

The transmission of power across vast distances would require large capital investment to set up long
transmission lines. Experts have pointed out that transmission across great distances can potentially be
very expensive. They have, however, noted that the first step of OSWOG would be solar power transfer
between neighbouring countries.

India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal already share transmission capacity for energy transfer
across borders which can be expanded further and utilised for the transfer of solar power between
these countries.

The study will make an assessment on a country-by-country basis, examining projected power demand
and supply as well as the renewable energy resource potential.

In May 2021, the United Kingdom and India agreed to combine forces of the Green Grids Initiative and
the One Sun One World One Grid initiative and jointly launch GGI-OSOWOG at the COP26 summit being
hosted by the UK at Glasgow in November 2021.