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General Studies 2 >> International Relations

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ONE SUN ONE WORLD ONE GRID (OSOWOG)

ONE SUN ONE WORLD ONE GRID (OSOWOG)

 

1. Context

In the run-up to the 18th G20 Summit, a day-long conference on " Transnational Grid Interconnections for One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)" was held in New Delhi, on 6th September 2023. The conference was organized by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a 'Maharatna' company under the Ministry of Power, Govt. of India.

2. One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)

  • The idea for the OSOWOG initiative was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 at the first assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
  • The ISA is an intergovernmental organization of 121 countries that are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The ISA's mission is to promote and facilitate the use of solar energy in its member countries.
  • The OSOWOG initiative is being developed by the ISA in collaboration with other organizations, including the Green Grids Initiative (GGI) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
  • The GGI is a UK government initiative that aims to accelerate the development of global electricity grids that are based on renewable energy. The UNFCCC is an international treaty that aims to combat climate change.
  • The OSOWOG initiative is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we generate and distribute electricity.
  • By connecting different regional grids, the OSOWOG initiative could help to reduce the cost of solar energy and make it more accessible to people all over the world. It could also help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.

3. Three Phases of the Plan:

  • First Phase: It will entail interconnectivity within the Asian continent.
  • Second Phase: It will add Africa.
  • Third Phase: It is about global interconnection.

4. Key features and aspects of the "One Sun, One World, One Grid" initiative include:

  • Harnessing Solar Energy: OSOWOG seeks to leverage the abundant and renewable energy resource provided by the sun. Solar power is one of the cleanest and most abundant sources of energy available and has the potential to meet a significant portion of global electricity demand.
  • Interconnected Grid: The core idea of OSOWOG is to create an interconnected grid infrastructure that allows solar power generated in one part of the world to be transmitted and shared with other regions. This interconnectedness enables countries to access clean energy when their own solar resources are not sufficient, such as during nighttime or cloudy periods.
  • Reduction of Energy Variability: Solar power generation can be variable due to factors like weather and time of day. By connecting regions with different solar patterns, the interconnected grid helps mitigate variability and ensures a more stable and continuous power supply.
  • Climate Change Mitigation: OSOWOG is aligned with global efforts to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By promoting the use of solar energy, it reduces the reliance on fossil fuels and helps mitigate the environmental impact of energy generation.
  • Energy Security: The interconnected grid enhances energy security by reducing dependence on a single energy source or supplier. It promotes energy diversification and resilience in the face of disruptions.
  • Global Energy Cooperation: OSOWOG fosters international cooperation and partnerships for the development, deployment, and management of solar energy resources. It encourages countries to collaborate on infrastructure development and energy trade.
  • Sustainable Development: The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), combating climate change (SDG 13), and fostering partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17).

5. Key benefits of the OSOWOG initiative:

  • It can help to reduce the cost of solar energy by making it possible to transmit solar power from areas with abundant solar resources to areas with less solar resources.
  • It can help to increase the reliability of the electricity grid by making it more resilient to disruptions caused by weather events or other factors.
  • It can help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.
  • It can help to promote international cooperation on clean energy.

The OSOWOG initiative is an ambitious project, but it has the potential to make a significant contribution to the global transition to clean energy. The success of the OSOWOG initiative will depend on the cooperation of governments, businesses, and individuals all over the world.

6. Challenges that need to be addressed in order to make the OSOWOG initiative a success:

  • The cost of building and maintaining the transnational grid will be high.
  • There are technical challenges to be overcome, such as the need to develop efficient and reliable ways to transmit solar power over long distances.
  • There will need to be agreement on international standards and regulations for the operation of the grid.
  • The OSOWOG initiative will need to be coordinated with other efforts to promote clean energy, such as the development of new solar and wind power projects.

Despite the challenges, the OSOWOG initiative is a promising development that has the potential to make a major contribution to the global transition to clean energy.

For Prelims: One Sun One World One Grid, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), Maharatna company, Ministry of Power, Green Grids Initiative (GGI), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

For Mains: 1. What is the concept and vision behind the " One Sun, One World, One Grid" (OSOWOG) initiative, and what are its key objectives? (250 words)

2. How does OSOWOG aims to harness solar energy on a global scale, and what are the potential benefits of creating an interconnected global solar grid? (250 words)

 

Previous year question

1. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2016)

1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.

2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Source: PIB


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