ISA, IIT Delhi sign pact to strengthen solar energy skills across member countries

New Delhi, Sept 4 (INB) The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and IIT Delhi have formalised a framework for action to strengthen cooperation in renewable energy, with focus on capacity building, academic collaboration and human resource development across ISA member countries.
According to a statement by the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi the framework, signed on February 25, 2026, aims to train renewable energy engineers, Solar Technology Application Resource-Centre (STAR-C) trainers and research professionals while promoting joint research, knowledge exchange and technology cooperation in solar energy.
The agreement was signed by ISA Director General Ashish Khanna and IIT Delhi Director Prof Rangan Banerjee, in the presence of senior officials and faculty members from both institutions. The partnership builds on ongoing collaboration between ISA and IIT Delhi’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering (DESE), which has supported an MTech programme in Renewable Energy Technologies and Management for professionals from 18 developing countries across Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Khanna said that more than 100 students have undertaken master’s programmes in renewable energy through the partnership over the last five years and are now taking up leadership roles in solar deployment and energy access across Africa, small island developing states (SIDS) and neighbouring regions.
“Building on this strong foundation, we are now expanding this partnership to launch a one year post graduate Diploma programme based on a Train-the-Trainers model,” Khanna said. The proposed initiative will leverage IIT Delhi’s academic network and collaboration with France’s Institut National de l’Énergie Solaire (INES) to develop a global framework for clean-energy capacity building across ISA member countries, he said. The partnership will also explore expanding existing master’s-level opportunities to include Master’s in Public Policy and PhD pathways in the solar energy sector, according to ISA. Banerjee said the collaboration would help build global capacity in solar and renewable energy and support India and countries in the Global South in developing a sustainable pathway towards net-zero emissions. IIT Delhi will also incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain technologies to enhance distributed solar systems and strengthen security in future sustainable energy systems, he said. Under the framework, ISA and IIT Delhi will collaborate in four broad areas — capacity building and talent development, academic programmes, joint research and knowledge creation, and outreach and knowledge exchange. The institutions will train STAR-C trainers from ISA member countries and expand academic collaboration through the proposed Train-the-Trainers programme, Master’s in Public Policy and PhD opportunities. They will also undertake research in areas such as solar resource assessment, quality standards, emerging technologies and innovative applications, besides jointly organising workshops, seminars and other outreach activities.